Census final report to be released next month

Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) spokesperson Iipumbu Sakaria has said the 2023 census final report will be released next month.

“NSA releases statistics irrespective of what those statistics say. The Statistics Act no 9 of 2011 prescribes that statistics be disseminated impartially and should be accessible,”Iipumbu said.

The pending report will provide information on the social and economic characteristics of the Namibian population, as well as on household and housing amenities.

Last week, social justice activist Michael Amushelelo stated that the report has not yet been released, because it is not in the interest of the ruling party to disclose national statistics on unemployment, as these figures would expose the government’s failure to create employment, especially for young people.

“The report is most certainly being delayed for political reasons, as it will showcase how poorly our country has been governed for the past 34 years,” Amushelelo said.

He alleged that the census report would likely influence voters to reconsider their support for the ruling party.

“This clearly demonstrates that many of our institutions are not truly independent and are politically influenced in their actions. In simple terms, they must dance to the political music of their appointing authorities instead of carrying out their respective mandates without fear or favour,” Amushelelo added.

Longinus Iipumbu, the deputy president of the Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF), expressed that it is unacceptable for the NSA to have received a budget from the government yet still fail to produce the final report 10 months after the census ended.

“It is a report that is overdue, a report that we, as Namibians, would really want to examine to identify which regions are suffering, for instance, the Omaheke region, where people have died due to hunger. If this report had been released earlier, the government could have prioritised assistance for this specific region,” Iipumbu said.

Political commentator Ndumba Kamwanyah disagreed with the notion that the delay is politically motivated.

“Conducting a census is a large and complex undertaking that often faces practical challenges, especially in resource-constrained environments,” he remarked. Kamwanyah noted that if the census report, when released, highlights significant economic challenges such as high unemployment, it could influence voter behaviour.

“However, its impact would depend on how political parties address these challenges in their campaigns and manifestos.

If the report were available before the elections, it would provide a concrete basis for parties to develop and communicate policy solutions, potentially swaying voters who are concerned about unemployment and other economic issues,” Kamwanyah explained.

He also said it is essential for all stakeholders, including political parties, to base their policies on comprehensive and up-to-date information.

“Timely data can inform more targeted and relevant policy directions, so it would indeed be beneficial if the report were available before the elections in November. It would enable parties to better understand and respond to the real challenges facing the population, such as unemployment, income inequality and access to services,” he added.

In March 2024, NSA released the preliminary findings of the 2023 Population and Housing Census. The report revealed that Namibia’s population has grown to 3 million, from the 1.4 million recorded in the inaugural 1991 census.

Females make up 51.2% of the population, and young people under 35 account for 71.1%. The population distribution is as follows: 0-14 years old (37%), 15-59 years old (working age, 56.1%), 60+ years old (6.8%) and 15-34 years old (youth, 34.1%). The average household size has decreased from 4.4 in 2011 to 3.8 people.