As the country prepares for the 2012 census, Zimstat says Zimbabweans in the Diaspora will not be enumerated.
Population Census and Surveys Director, Washington Tapuwa Mapeta said instead, Harare will liaise with nations like South Africa, Britain and the United States where Zimbabweans are found in big numbers, asking them for statistics on Zimbabweans in their countries.
Zimstat said everyone who will be in Zimbabwe on the night of August 17/18 would be counted in the census. The actual counting starts August 18th ending August 27th.
Finance minister Tendai Biti early this week announced that the country needed $37 million to conduct the program.
The last census was conducted in 2002 and put the population at 11 631 657. Over three million Zimbabweans are believed to be living in the Diaspora.
Schools will be closed a week earlier to allow teachers who will work as enumerators time to prepare for the program.
Mapeta told Studio 7 that preparations were on course with enumerators being trained.