Zimbabwe’s National Statistical Agency Launches 2025 Economic Census Survey

By Wallace Mawire

  Zimbabwe in keeping with its  devolution agenda has launched  the 2025 Economic Census which  will provide valuable insights into the geographical spread of both business establishments and economic activities across the country.

   Aluwisio Mukwavhi,ZIMSTAT Acting Director-General said at the lauch that   the theme of the census, "Counting Every Business, Shaping Economic Policies,"  captures the essence of the undertaking.

  He said that every single business, regardless of size, contributes to the vibrant tapestry of the national economy.

 He added that consistent with the “leaving no one and no place behind” mantra, the 2025 Economic Census will cover micro, small, and medium enterprises.

Mukavhi added that the information from the census will also provide baseline statistical information for crafting of National Development Strategy 2 running from 2026-2030.

'The statistics will also help develop a comprehensive Statistical Business Register to be used as a sampling frame for subsequent economic surveys, over and above informing on progress made towards regional, continental, and global initiatives including the Africa Agenda 2063 and Sustainable Development Goals," he said.

  According to Mukavhi, the inaugural 2025 Economic Census is a priority project to which the Government of Zimbabwe is fully committed towards its successful implementation. 

 He said that as such, maximum support is expected from the business community through provision of timely and truthful information, be it state owned enterprises or privately owned businesses, whether registered or not registered.

  He the business and private sector to cooperate and render undivided support to the work of the 2025 Economic Census, which is expected to run from January 2025 until the first quarter of 2026.

  He also said that preparatory activities, including mapping and listing of business locations, will commence next month in July 2024.

 He said that due to the magnitude of the work preceding the execution of the 2025 Economic Census, Provincial Development Coordinators (PDCs) are once again expected to coordinate related activities in their respective provinces.

 At the launch,discussions focused  on types of data to be collected, stages of the census and timelines.