The Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT), this Tuesday, joined the rest of the continent in marking African Statistics Day, an annual event that highlights the importance of official data in driving socio-economic development and fostering a more informed Africa.
This year’s theme, “Leveraging innovations in data and statistics to promote a just, peaceful, inclusive and prosperous society for Africans,” aligns well with Zimbabwe’s renewed focus on strengthening statistics ahead of its adoption of national framework NDS2 which depend on robust and timely statistics for effective planning, monitoring and evaluation.
In a statement, ZIMSTAT noted that many of Africa’s development challenges are rooted in the limited availability of reliable data. It highlighted that in 2024 more than one in five Africans faced hunger, while the continent remains the least peaceful region according to the Global Peace Index 2025—factors that continue to impede progress on Sustainable Development Goal 16, which promotes peace, justice and strong institutions.
ZIMSTAT Director-General Tafadzwa Bandama said Zimbabwe, like many African nations, is investing in modernising its national statistical system. “This modernisation includes the adoption of digital technologies, artificial intelligence, geospatial tools, big data and citizen-generated data to strengthen the production of official statistics,” she said.
She noted that such innovations have already begun transforming the statistical ecosystem, which is crucial for producing timely, reliable and accurate data.
Bandama added that Zimbabwe’s rollout of computer-assisted personal interviewing across all surveys has improved the country’s capacity to generate data for tracking progress on the Sustainable Development Goals, monitoring the implementation of NDS1 and informing the development of NDS2.
“The use of innovative data collection and analysis methods, ensures that policies are evidence-based and responsive to citizens’ needs, thereby supporting inclusive national development.”
At continental level, ZIMSTAT acknowledged the contribution of initiatives such as the SDG 16 Survey Initiative and the Praia Group on Governance Statistics, which it said are helping strengthen the production of reliable and comparable governance data.
ZIMSTAT also reaffirmed its commitment to the fundamental principles of official statistics such as impartiality, professionalism and integrity and emphasised that these values remain vital in producing trustworthy data for citizens, policymakers and development partners.
