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as the Zimbabwe Statistical Agency started paying them for participating in the 2012 national census.
Zimstat Population census and surveys manager Mr Washington Mapeta confirmed the development.
The Government recently released $8 million to pay the enumerators.
At least 30 000 enumerators, mostly drawn from the education sector, took part in the exercise.
In an interview on Tuesday, Mr Mapeta said they started paying the enumerators on Sunday.
“We are certain that all enumerators will get their part payment this week, they might not get it all but we are sure that they will get something,” said Mr Mapeta.
Those from Gwanda district converged on the Gwanda Government Complex while those from Umguza were at the district offices at Tredgold Building in Bulawayo.
Those spoken to at Tredgold Building said they were being given $150.”I was phoned by a friend who told me that we have been asked to come and get our money. Our worry is that some will not get their money because they are in the rural areas,” said an enumerator.
There was near pandemonium in the morning as the enumerators gathered at one of Tredgold Building entrances where their details were being recorded before getting into Room 22 to get their money.
The group kept increasing as more enumerators kept trickling in as the message spread that they were getting their allowances.
There were a number of policemen, some armed with rifles, monitoring the situation.
In Gwanda, some of the enumerators said they had spent two nights sleeping on pavements in anticipation of getting paid.
On Tuesday morning enumerators swarmed the Zimstats offices with the hope of getting their allowances but were sent back home and asked to return yesterday morning.
They gathered in front of the Government Complex as early as 7am. “I spent two nights sleeping in front of a shop in town. We came here on Monday after being told to come and collect our payments on Tuesday morning but could not go back to my rural home because I had no money for transport,” said an enumerator.
Some said they spent the night in a queue for those seeking passports.
“I just pretended to be one of those applying for a passport and slept in the queue because I had nowhere else to go,” said another enumerator.
Cleaners within the Government Complex said they could not do their work because of the number of enumerators who had gathered there.
Some enumerators blamed Zimstat officers for delaying the process of giving them their payments.
“A police officer also tried to maintain order at the queue but also vanished because the Zimstat officers were taking their time in serving people. We were just given money for three days which is $150 and I am disappointed,” said an enumerator after collecting her share.
They said they hoped the balance would be deposited in their accounts to avoid going to town.
The census programme ran from 17 to 27 August and there are reports some people were not counted.
Commenting on the concerns, Mr Mr Mapeta said the issue would be looked into.
“All those who think they were not counted should report to our offices and we will investigate the issue further. We are aware that there are many people who think they were not counted, yet in fact they were counted, but they do not know that,” he said.
Mr Mapeta said after investigations, they would then count the people if the need arises.
“This will not even affect the accuracy of the results in any way. On that note we would also like to urge those who think they were not counted to come as soon as possible because if they delay, it might affect the result, although not to a large extent,” said Mr Mapeta.
He said other enumerators were still in the process of bringing questionnaires to their provincial centres.
The 2012 population census was marred by disturbances when it started. Thousands of prospective enumerators wishing to take part in the process jostled at various centres countrywide to take part in the process.
The enumeration started at midnight on 17 August with the counting of vagrants and those in transit.
The process was also affected by late disbursement of material while transport shortages also affected deployment of some officers to remote areas.
“I just pretended to be one of those applying for a passport and slept in the queue because I had nowhere else to go,” said another enumerator.
Cleaners within the Government Complex said they could not do their work because of the number of enumerators who had gathered there.
Some enumerators blamed Zimstat officers for delaying the process of giving them their payments.
“A police officer also tried to maintain order at the queue but also vanished because the Zimstat officers were taking their time in serving people. We were just given money for three days which is $150 and I am disappointed,” said an enumerator after collecting her share.
They said they hoped the balance would be deposited in their accounts to avoid going to town.
The census programme ran from 17 to 27 August and there are reports some people were not counted.
Commenting on the concerns, Mr Mr Mapeta said the issue would be looked into.
“All those who think they were not counted should report to our offices and we will investigate the issue further. We are aware that there are many people who think they were not counted, yet in fact they were counted, but they do not know that,” he said.
Mr Mapeta said after investigations, they would then count the people if the need arises.
“This will not even affect the accuracy of the results in any way. On that note we would also like to urge those who think they were not counted to come as soon as possible because if they delay, it might affect the result, although not to a large extent,” said Mr Mapeta.
He said other enumerators were still in the process of bringing questionnaires to their provincial centres.
The 2012 population census was marred by disturbances when it started. Thousands of prospective enumerators wishing to take part in the process jostled at various centres countrywide to take part in the process.
The enumeration started at midnight on 17 August with the counting of vagrants and those in transit.
The process was also affected by late disbursement of material while transport shortages also affected deployment of some officers to remote areas.
Online Reporter