NSO to investigate census enumerators’ ‘negligence’
National Statistical Office (NSO) says it will investigate reports that some enumerators in Area 49 in Lilongwe are marking houses to collect data for the Population and Housing Census (PHC) without interviewing residents.
Responding to the concerns in an interview on Saturday, NSO commissioner of statistics Mercy Kanyuka expressed ignorance on the matter, but said it is important for the public to provide such feedback if the census is to achieve its objectives.
“We are keen to receive feedback. That is the best way the census can be successful,” she said.
University of Malawi Chancellor College lecturer of population studies Benjamin Kaneka, who is also a member of census national publicity subcommittee, said it is unfortunate if the enumerators label the gates without interviewing residents
Residents of New Gulliver in Lilongwe on Saturday raised concerns that enumerators in the ongoing census allegedly marked some houses without interviewing residents.
The residents claimed that three households have been marked PHC/0063/A, PHC/0092/A and PHC/0091/A, but the owners deny meeting any enumerator.
The residents claimed over 60 houses have been marked without the enumerators interviewing the occupants.
Another resident, Masida Mbano, said: “They have written on the gate as an indication that they have done their job, but they did no collect any information from us.”
Another resident, Sunday Mkandawire, said plots 1149 and 1150 and others were marked yet the occupants were not interviewed.
Kanyuka said NSO will follow up the matter.
