The effects of forced migration due to economic and political crisis which affected the country a couple of years ago will soon become apparent in this year’s national population census. According to figures on the IndexMundi website, Zimbabwe’s population as of 2011 was estimated at around 12 084, 304. This figure may  be subjected to debate with some suggestions of figures around 15 million including those in the Diaspora.  The demographic changes are mainly attributed to the socio-economic and political crisis the country has faced in the last decade and this has resulted in mass migration of Zimbabweans to neighboring countries such as Botswana and South Africa with others going as a far as Europe and America. Census figures are vital to national planning and some development agencies rely on the figures for their development activities.  It is almost a decade now since the last census was held in the country and the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT) is preparing to embark on the enumeration exercise in August this year. This year’s census is the fourth since the country attained its independence from Britain. The first census was held in 1982 and the others were held at ten-year intervals.  ZIMSTATS recently came under attack for failing to publicize the event, which is estimated to cost $39 million dollars. Last year the organization received vehicle donations from the US government to be used in reaching remote areas when carrying out the national census and other surveys.

How does charging a mobile phone become worth as much as 200 liters of clean water?

A must read from Ethan Zuckerman

A young boy riding his bicycle on Arcturus Road. No saddle. A loaf of Lobels in one hand.

Outside Oriel Girls High School, scattered broken Castle beer bottles. Why don’t the school authorities clean the area? And where do they come from … predatory sugar daddies?

As a gay man living in Tanzania, Cassim Mustapha could have faced imprisonment, but prosecutions under the country’s Sexual Offences Act are rare, and the bigger threat came from his own community. After one of his neighbours attacked him with an axe leaving a deep wound in his head, Mustapha fled and applied for asylum in Malawi, the first country he reached. More from IRIN here

Three headlines in today’s Herald newspaper paint a dark (sorry) picture for Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA), already struggling with electricity demand that far outstrips supply, and frustrated customers who believe ZESA over charges them on bills – and under delivers on power.

• ZESA takes PM’s brother to court over bill (He’s certainly not the only one who hasn’t been paying,and ZESA complains that unpaid bills is part of why they can’t deliver service.
• ZESA workers threaten to switch off power (The lowest paid ZESA worker currently earns just $190 / month. They argue management has received pay increments, but not lower grade employees)
• Debt cripples Kariba Power Station ($21 million in debt, with $7.5 million in interest. Ouch. Meanwhile, outdated equipment at the power station runs up ever higher maintenance and repair bills.)