Arusha Regional Commissioner, Magesa Mulongo

Arusha Regional Commissioner Magesa Mulongo yesterday warned all people, who are moving up and down, conducting dirty campaigns against the next month population and housing census, saying the law will take its course against the perpetuators.

Mulongo sounded the warning here, when opening a twelve-day training of trainers for enumerators (ToTs) for the planned census.

RC’s warning came amid spreading rumours that there are religious leaders in the region who are telling their believers that they shouldn’t take part in the forthcoming national exercise.

“As government, we’re very aware that there are people who are telling others not to take part in the population settlement census slated for next month. We’ll ensure that all those people are taken to task,” Mulongo warned.

He stressed that census is an important pointer in the country’s development, so nobody should downplay the forthcoming enumeration exercise.

The regional population census’ committee chairman explained that preparation for the countrywide enumeration exercise were going well and “no body should dare to spoil the exercise in anyway.”

He directed trainer of trainees attending the course to be committed and perform their duties seriously, taking into account that the government has been spending billions of shillings to facilitate the exercise.

The RC also called on all social groups, public institutions and the private sector to actively play their role in sensitising the people on the need for them to participate in the forthcoming countrywide census.

According to Arusha Regional population and housing census’ coordinator Margaret Martin, this year’s census will, for the first time, include details pertaining to Tanzanians in the diaspora, people with disabilities and maternal deaths.

She also appealed to the public to cooperate with the enumerators, who will be carrying-out the exercise, by providing them with relevant information.

The 2012 census will be the fifth to be carried out since independence. Previous censuses were carried out in1967, 1978, 1988 and 2002.

About 158 teachers and 70 clerks have been lined up for this year’s population and housing census in Arusha region.

“Everything for the August 26, census is in place, these teachers and other officials will be executing the exercise across the region,” Martin said.

The data collected in these censuses have been extensively used in evaluating the impact, diverse policies and programmes on improving the standard of living of the population.