Recently, there have been reports circulating on social media of individuals posing as home affairs officers and working alongside the upcoming census, thereby using this opportunity to carry out unlawful acts on vulnerable residents.

The Statistics Division would like to clarify that it has no association with these individuals and has unequivocally distanced its officers from any such incidents. In late January, the Statistics Division started a Mapping and Listing Exercise as part of the pre-enumeration activities for the 2024 Population and Housing Census.

However, as a result of this development where alleged imposters are posing as census workers, the mapping officers are facing difficulties while carrying out their duties in the field.

Some residents are reportedly apprehensive about dealing with the officers. The Statistics Division assures the public that mapping officers will not need entry to their property nor interview members of their household requesting personal information at this stage of the exercise.

This pre-enumeration exercise helps census workers locate dwellings, businesses, and other buildings quickly and efficiently. Additionally, it determines the extent to which the maps correctly reflect the geographic and housing characteristics of the enumeration districts.

These maps will be used for the actual census enumeration later this year. It is important to note that there are three stages to executing a census.

The first is the pre-enumeration stage, which is currently underway, and is essential. The second is the enumeration, which is the data collection stage and is the critical component of the Census.

The third is the post-enumeration stage, where the data collected is verified, analyzed, and statistics, reports, and other outputs are produced and disseminated.

The Census Office, responsible for implementing the Census, confirms that Mapping Officers are appropriately attired in T-shirts bearing the Division’s logo on the front and “Census Mapping Exercise” on the back, along with official picture IDs.

The Statistics Division continues to solicit the full cooperation of the public when the mapping officers visit their area.