Zimstat to produce provincial, district GDP data

Mutare New Ziana) -The Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (Zimstat) has started compiling provincial and district Gross Domestic Product data for publication.

Zimstat public relations and communications manager Mercy Chidemo said the move was in line with the government thrust of devolution and decentralization.

“As part of our mandate, we have started collecting devolution statistics including provincial and district GDP from 2012 to 2018,” she said.

“The agency uses the hybrid approach, which is based on data from surveys and administrative sources to compile provincial GDP statistics,” she added.

Chidemo said the major challenge that the agency was facing was that some of the data providers did not make use of the 10 administrative provinces when submitting information.

“Currently, some data providers do not make use of the 10 administrative provinces when submitting data to ZIMRA and ZIMSTAT. Instead they use regions such as Northern, Southern and Eastern. This is giving us challenges in compiling provincial and district GDP,” she said.

She said going forward the statistics agency would use the output approach, which involves the use of turnovers and sales data of all establishments in the provinces and districts.

“The output method requires use of turnovers or sales data of all establishments in the province and districts, “she said.

Chidemo urged public and private establishments such as line Ministries, government departments and agencies, business organizations, private companies, churches, mission schools and hospitals, civil organisations, political parties and clubs to provide data by provinces and districts.

“Data by province and district will expedite compilation of devolution statistics including provincial GDP.

“Zimstat is on the ground collecting data and we urge all respondents to cooperate,” she said.

New Ziana