MPs question census data in constituencies
Chambani MP Yussuf Salim Hussein addresses legislators at a Census Data Dissemination seminar in Dodoma yesterday. Some MPs expressed doubt over the authenticity of the 2012 Housing and Population Census. PHOTO | EDWIN MJWAHUZI
What you need to know:
- Apart from the general data which indicates that the country had 44.9 million people when the census was conducted, many law makers doubted the population spread in their constituencies
The National Bureau of Statistics is one of the government executive agencies established under the executive agencies Act No. 30, 1997 as amended by Act No 13, 2009. It was established following the transformation of the former Central Bureau of Statistics which was a department under the Planning Commission. This transformation of NBS from a ministerial department to an executive agency was aimed at enhancing effectiveness and efficiency in the overall process of statistical production.
Dodoma. Some Members of Parliament yesterday expressed their doubt over the authenticity of the 2012 Housing and Population Census.
Apart from the general data which indicates that the country had 44.9 million people when the census was conducted, many law makers doubted the population spread in their constituencies.
The chief executive officer of the National Bureau of Statistics, Dr Albina Chuwa, calmed the MPs noting that what has been released was only provisional data which will be reviewed.
“We have heard your concerns. This is just provisional data and we are going to review it. The law demands us to also take into consideration interpretation of the data from the users. Therefore, what you have said will be considered when we conduct a review of this data,” said Dr Chuwa when reacting to questions from MPs during the census data dissemination seminar yesterday.
First MP to express his doubts over the data was Mr Goodluck Medeye (Arumeru West-CCM), who pointed out that enumerators might have messed up the exercise.
His sentiments were shared by Mr Mohammed Habib Mnyaa (Mkanyageni-CUF), who noted that population data in his constituency provided by NBS does not reflect the real situation on the ground.
“If this data is used as it is, there is possibility of affecting the decision to divide constituencies ahead of the General Election,” warned Mr Mnyaa.
Other MPs noted that the census data might not be correct because many Muslims did not participate in the exercise.
“It is true that the census exercise was affected by religious sentiments,” noted Mr Adam Malima (Mkuranga-CCM).
Meanwihile Dr Chuwa told the MPs that if the population increase rate has remained constant, the country now is projected to have 48 million people.
