Lack of boarding facilities hits ZimStats

THE lack of boarding facilities in Karoi district was exposed recently when 221 enumerators were forced to travel an estimated 380km in search of accommodation for census training.

The enumerators, who include teachers and other civil servants including the youth, were recruited for training that ends today ahead of the census that runs from April 21 to April 30.

Some trainees from Kariba rural under Chiefs Mola, Negande, Musambakaruma, among others travelled to Chinhoyi where there are boarding facilities for the training – a distance of about 380km.

Zimbabwe Statistical Agency (ZimStats) spokesperson Mercy Chidemo confirmed that the organisation struggled to find accommodation for enumerators for the training in some districts such as Karoi.

‘‘They (enumerators) will be going back to their areas tomorrow (today) as the census begins on April 21. There are training centres in various districts across the country. Some are at boarding and day schools depending on distances,'' Chidemo said.

Former Education minister Fay Chung said it was disturbing that government has failed since 1980 to ensure that every district has a boarding facility.

"Government has no money but every district must have at least one boarding that is not fancy and expensive. If a district does not have such a facility, then the local Member of Parliament needs to lobby through Parliament and the minister concerned," she said.

Chung estimated at least US$2 million is required for a 14-classroom boarding school with other facilities. The upcoming census is the fifth since independence, the last having been conducted in 2012.

Primary and Secondary ministry spokesperson Taungana Ndoro said: "As for boarding facilities, plans are underway to meet demand."