Herald Reporter
SCHOOLS will close earlier than scheduled this term to ensure the national census slated for August 17 and 18 is held without hindrances.

In a statement in the House of Assembly yesterday Finance Minister Tendai Biti said the rescheduling from the initial August 9 to August 2 had been done to enable teachers who form the bulk of enumerators prepare adequately.

“Closure of schools this term will be on the 2nd of August 2012 and will re-open on the normal time that had been scheduled, September 11,” he said.
Minister Biti appraised the House that preparations for the exercise were on course with Government having already mobilised US$22 million of the US$37,2 million needed for the exercise.

He urged parliamentarians to educate their constituencies on the need to take part in the exercise that is important for coming up with reliable data on issues like levels of poverty, access to health and others that are important for national development.

Zimbabweans, said Minister Biti, had nothing to fear from participating in the event because there was nothing political about it apart from collating important national data.