Economic Census will uncover underground economic activities

THE Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStat) has said the 2025 Economic Census will, among other things, uncover underground economic activities some of which are illegal as they also contribute to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The country will conduct its first-ever Economic Census next year with preliminary works already underway. The Economic Census is expected to provide comprehensive baseline statistics for the economy while also creating a statistical business register. ZimStat is conducting provincial sensitisation programmes ahead of the commencement of the Economic Census mapping exercise next week.

Yesterday, it took the programme to stakeholders in Matabeleland North where officials revealed that the Economic Census seeks to document all forms of economic activities that are occurring in provinces. Speaking during the meeting, National Aids Council (Nac) provincial manager for Matabeleland North, Mr Dingani Ncube sought to understand how activities such as sex work will be incorporated during data collection. “If you go to business areas in Matabeleland North, there is a lot of sex work that is going on. How are we going to quantify that kind of business that is going on?” he asked.

Some participants also sought to understand what would happen to those who try to withhold information considering that many business operators may understate their economic activities. ZimStat accounts manager Mr Grown Chirongwe said the Economic Census will unpack the size of the economy by unpacking all the economic activities being undertaken.

“As we are undertaking this Economic Census we are going to be covering all businesses, formal and informal. In the informal sector, we have some businesses that are not observable because they are operating illegally or underground,” he said. “Those businesses should also be covered, they should be part of the GDP and this includes even sex work and the selling of drugs. ZimStat doesn’t do policing duties, but we are going to capture what is happening.”

Mr Chirongwe said without capturing those underground economic activities, the country’s GDP will remain understated. “This will enable us to capture the GDP for Matabeleland North by district and if we miss out on some economic activities then the GDP for Matabeleland North will be understated,” he said.

“For a transaction to be able to get into GDP numbers there should be an agreement between two parties. If people agree that there is going to be sex work and there is a transaction it should be recorded as part of GDP. “The same applies to the issue of selling drugs, if two parties agree to the issue of selling drugs, it should be included in the GDP. We would not be worried about who they are but we are worried about the figures so that we can measure the GDP for Matabeleland North accurately.”

Mr Chirongwe said the Economic Census will also provide the district sizes of the economy which have never been documented. He noted that the provincial GDPs are presently generalised and do not provide the exact economic activities happening in communities. “Districts in Matabeleland North are endowed differently, if you talk of Hwange it has coal, Nkayi has timber, Victoria Falls has the mighty Victoria Falls which is tourism. So all the districts will be contributing to the economy in different ways,” said Mr Chirongwe.

“It is important to capture the economic activities that are happening across districts so that the Government can plan and help districts that are lagging behind. In Binga, there are fish, and it will be interesting how much the fishing industry is contributing.” Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Cde Richard Moyo who was represented by the director for economic affairs and investment in the province, Mr Godfrey Mukwakwami, said the Economic Census will be key in shaping the development trajectory of Matabeleland North.

“The 2025 Economic Census is a landmark undertaking that will provide us with a comprehensive picture of our provincial and national economic landscape. This data is invaluable for informed decision-making at all levels. As Matabeleland North Province, we are acutely aware of the need for accurate and up-to-date economic data,” said Minister Moyo.

“This information will empower us to develop targeted policies that foster economic growth and job creation in the province, allocate resources effectively to support key industries and sectors, and identify areas for investment that will unlock our province’s full potential.” Minister Moyo said the province is expecting the Economic Census to support the devolution agenda through disaggregated statistics for decision-making at the lower tiers of the Government.-@nqotshili