CIO bars residents from Zimstats office

Following widespread complaints from people throughout the country that they were omitted from the counting process, Zimstat has called on citizens to approach its offices for verification. But Bulawayo residents who thronged Zimstat offices with the hope of being counted are being harassed.

“I was never counted during the census period. Yesterday when I went to Zimstat offices at Magnet house hoping to be counted, I was denied entry by two security agencies manning the entrance door. They told me that the building is a security threat (sic) and anyone entering should be vetted,” said a North End resident who refused to be named for fear of victimisation.

Another resident, who also refused to be named for the same reasons, said: “Why is it that of all the government departments, Zimstat is the only government department housed at Magnet building? Most government departments are housed at Mhlahlandlela government building complex. As long as it remains there, people who aspire to be counted will not go there,” he said.

A Zimstat contract worker was last year banned from entering the building after CIO officials accused her of being once an employee of Bulawayo Agenda, an NGO perceived to be anti-government.