Online Reporter
Nqobile Bhebhe, Zimpapers Business Hub
THE Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT), in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has commenced the 2025 Zimbabwe Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey Round 7 (MICS7), a key national data collection exercise designed to assess the situation of children and women across the country.
ZIMSTAT director-general, Mrs Tafadwa Bandama said the survey forms part of an international household program aimed at producing reliable estimates of key indicators that inform national and global development frameworks.
“The Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT), in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), is pleased to announce the commencement of the 2025 Zimbabwe Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey Round 7 (MICS7),” said Mrs Bandama in a statement.
“The Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) is an international household survey program designed to collect estimates of key indicators that assess the situation of children and women. Over the past three decades, MICS has evolved to meet changing data needs, expanding from 28 indicators in its first round to more than 200 in the current seventh round.
“It has become a key source of data on child protection, early childhood education, child health and nutrition.”
According to ZIMSTAT, MICS remains the only survey that comprehensively covers a wide range of topics directly affecting the rights and well-being of children in Zimbabwe, including health, nutrition, water, sanitation, hygiene (WASH), education, child protection, social protection, and gender.
“Besides providing data for monitoring national and global commitments, MICS helps track progress towards the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” the statement added.
The 2025 MICS will update and complement existing data, offering indispensable insights into the situation of children and families amid evolving national and global data needs.
“The survey will track progress toward SDG 2030 targets, the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), the UNICEF Country Program, and Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030. Furthermore, the results will support the evaluation of the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) and inform the formulation of NDS2, guiding evidence-based policy design, budgeting, and advocacy for children’s welfare,” said Mrs Bandama.
ZIMSTAT stressed that as Government continues to strengthen frameworks for SDG monitoring and national planning, investments in robust, timely and high-quality data remain crucial for effective decision-making and development planning.
Key milestones in preparation for the rollout such as the pretesting of survey instruments and the training and equipping of enumerators have already been completed with the support of the Government of Zimbabwe and UNICEF.
ZIMSTAT is implementing the 2025 MICS in collaboration with various Government ministries and development partners. During the exercise, ZIMSTAT enumerators will visit households within selected enumeration areas nationwide.
The MICS7 is being conducted under the authority of the Census and Statistics Act, and ZIMSTAT assured the public that all information collected will remain strictly confidential.
“Data gathered will be used solely for statistical purposes to support the formulation, implementation, and monitoring of development projects and programs,” said ZIMSTAT.
The agency appealed for the full cooperation of all selected households to ensure the success of the survey.
“ZIMSTAT calls upon all selected households to cooperate fully with enumerators and provide accurate information during the data collection exercise. The credibility and success of this important national initiative depend on the active participation of every household.”
