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The history of
censuses in Lesotho
The first Population
Census of Lesotho was undertaken in 1875. Others have since been
conducted, although not at regular intervals. A decennial population
census programme started in 1936, with seven censuses conducted under
this programme. Most of the censuses prior to 1966 did not adopt
modern scientific methods of data collection. Instead of enumerators
visiting households as is done in modern censuses, the earlier
censuses adopted the assembly method, whereby household members were
requested to assemble at an assembly point, such as the Chief’s place,
to be counted.
Since independence in
1966, Lesotho has successfully conducted four modern population
censuses, in 1966, 1976, 1986 and 1996. Following this programme, the
next census is expected in 2006. The 1966, 1976, 1986 and 1996 Lesotho
population and Housing censuses were carried out by the Bureau of
Statistics, under the mandate of the Statistics Act of 1965. The
Statistics Act provided for a census to be undertaken every ten years.
The Act defined the functions and powers of the agency designated to
undertake the census. Furthermore, the Act provided for a
Parliamentary Proclamation that spelt out the census objectives and
established a number of committees to plan and conduct the census. An
Executive Order also enjoined the support of the district
Administrators and Principal Chiefs.
Challenges and
lessons learned during the past censuses
Lessons learned from
conducting censuses in the past indicate that:
There is a need to
have a comprehensive census framework with adequate resources at all
stages of census implementation;
There is a critical
need to provide accurate and relevant information in a timely manner;
There is a need to
provide data that can be disaggregated by sex, social groups, and
other vulnerable groups; and
It is essential to
integrate national survey needs in the Census.
The BoS has noted
major shifts in the conduct of censuses including
Linking Censuses with
administrative records to utilize such records to provide information
earlier provided through Census exercises. This requires harmonization
of concepts, definitions and tabulation practices.
These trends pose
important challenges for Lesotho since harmonization of inter Census
surveys with the decennial Census data requires a lot of improvement.
Lesotho should also improve integration of administrative records for
statistical purposes and the practice and storage of administrative
data. This requires substantial reform to enable the Bureau to utilize
such data effectively and efficiently.
The new decentralized
dispensation, which created 128 Community Councils, ten District
Councils and the Maseru City Council, also poses challenges to the BoS.
The Census data has to be availed on a basis that would provide these
decentralized structures with base information for their planning and
provision of services, as well as Government investments in those
localities. This will require substantial additional data sorting,
analyses and, probably, additional tabulation reports.
Proposed strategy to
tackle such constraints in the coming 2006 Census
Although several
surveys and data collection activities have been undertaken over the
past few years, the planned 2006 Population and Housing Census, like
other censuses conducted in the past, will also be the most important
data collection activity. It will cover the following items:
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All enumeration
areas, all households and all Basotho resident in Lesotho and
outside Lesotho. It will also collect information on all persons
residing in Lesotho irrespective of nationality.
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As a complete
enumeration, the 2006 Census will also have statistics, on all the
data items collected, for the smallest areas and lowest
administrative units such as wards, villages, schools and health
service areas. These statistics are needed in order to plan services
for these areas.
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The 2006 Population
and Housing, like other censuses, will also have the widest
selection of data items investigated, in the areas of housing,
household characteristics, marriage, pregnancy and childbearing
experience, contraception, mortality (including early age and
maternal mortality), economic characteristics, education, literacy,
disability, internal and international migration.
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It will provide
actual numbers of all data items investigated as listed above. These
specific data items will be very useful for purposes of policy
formulation, development planning and service delivery;
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Data from the
Census and the DHS will supplement each other in showing to what
extent HIV and AIDS has affected not only the size of the population
but also the age and sex composition and structure of the
population.
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Data from the
census, in conjunction with other data from the 2004/2005
Demographic and Health Survey and data from the regular HIV and AIDS
Sentinel Surveillance Surveys will provide information for the
construction of more accurate life tables.
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The 2006 Population
and Housing Census will investigate exactly the same data items as
in census 1996, including the few new ones that will be added and
refinements to the few other data items. Except for required
improvements, the methodology of data collection will be the same as
previous ones, with concepts defined in the same way as in previous
censuses. This will allow for comparability of data over the years
and assist in establishing reliable trends for several data items;
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The 2006 Census of
Housing and Population will be conducted according to international
standards established by the United Nations, and in line with the
generic questionnaire recommended for all SADC member countries.
This will ensure comparability of data across the Southern African
sub-region and internationally.
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The 2006
Population and Housing Census will be the most authoritative
source of data for socio-economic and development planning in
Lesotho in the next decade. It will have the full backing of
Government and the Statistics Act of 2001, as well as the
resources and support of Government and the international
community.
- The 2006 Population and
Housing Census will adopt other international goals and
recommendations, for example, the 2010 World Population Program
(WPP) of the UN Statistical Commission to be implemented from
2005 to 2014.
In addition, adequate
logistics will be put in place. These will include: office space at
the district level, transportation, computer hardware, software and
accessories, printers, communication equipment and office supplies
etc. The objective is to ensure that all logistics are properly and
accurately determined in advance, procured in time, properly
distributed and made ready before the start of census operations.
The BoS has already
been directed by the Lesotho Government to conduct the coming 2006
census, and the Census Proclamation and Executive Order was produced
and published in March 2005.
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