Maseru, Feb.05 – In a bid to ensure the inclusion of all sectors of society in the upcoming national census, the Bureau of Statistics (BoS) has embarked on a one-day media engagement ahead of the 2026 Population and Housing Census (PHC), scheduled for April.
Population and Housing Censuses in Lesotho are conducted every ten years, with the most recent census having been carried out in 2016.
Opening the engagement, BoS Director Mrs. ’Malehloa Molato said it was crucial to engage media practitioners so that they are well-informed about census-related issues, noting that the media serves as a mouthpiece of the public.
She said BoS expects media practitioners, across their respective media houses, to play a key role in disseminating census information, while also participating in the exercise themselves to ensure they are counted.
Mrs. Molato explained that a resolution by the Committee of Heads of National Statistics Offices from Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states requires all member countries to conduct Population and Housing Censuses at regular intervals and to share technical expertise.
She noted that this resolution resulted in the 2000–2010 census round and the 2016 PHC, which fell within the 2015–2020 round. The 2026 PHC, she added, falls under the 2020–2030 round, highlighting that Lesotho is the first country in the region to commence this round.
She urged media practitioners and Basotho at large to work closely with BoS throughout the census process to ensure the collection of accurate and reliable data.
Meanwhile, Senior Statistician Ms. Nyefolo Seboka said the census is conducted in line with the Census Project Document, which guides all census activities, including the establishment of committees responsible for implementing the exercise.
She called on the media to collaborate with BoS in ensuring that Basotho understand the importance of the census and are able to provide accurate information when counted.
Media practitioners, on their part, commended BoS for the engagement, describing it as an eye-opener. They urged the bureau to further strengthen the partnership and ensure that census information remains accessible.
The 2026 Population and Housing Census will be the seventh census undertaken by Lesotho since the first one in 1966.
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