Botha-Bothe, May 05 — The national census currently underway across all 10 districts of Lesotho, including Botha-Bothe, is expected to take longer than the initially planned two-week period.
This follows a briefing by Botha-Bothe Statistician, Mr. Motuba Koakoa, to Heads of Departments in the district, where he explained that limited resources are slowing progress.
He noted that two enumerators are required to share a single tablet, making it difficult to complete their work efficiently.
“What happens is that enumerators move together from one village to another, instead of covering separate areas. This means the workload that was meant for one enumerator per day is now shared, delaying progress,” he said.
Mr. Koakoa appealed to the public for patience and cooperation, noting that each questionnaire takes approximately 45 minutes to complete.
“We ask for the public’s patience and support as enumerators carry out this important exercise,” he added.
He further indicated that the shortage of tablets has forced districts to share resources, which may result in the enumeration process continuing throughout May.
Assistant Supervisor for the Urban Council, Ms. Rethabile Mohoang, highlighted poor internet connectivity as another major challenge. She explained that the tablets function best when connected to the internet, but many have run out of data, and enumerators lack funds to purchase additional data or hotspot their devices.
Another Assistant Supervisor, Ms. Bohlokoa Majara, pointed out that persistent rainfall is also hindering progress. She said enumerators do not have adequate protective gear for rainy conditions, and the tablets themselves are at risk of damage.
Supervisor Mr. Seabata Ramots’o noted that despite these challenges, the exercise is ongoing. However, he added that a small number of residents are still reluctant to participate in the census.
The Botha-Bothe census commenced on April 18, 2026, after being delayed from the original start date of April 12 due to late delivery of electronic tablets needed for the exercise.
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