By Kuda Pembere
The Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT), in partnership with UNICEF, has begun data collection for the seventh round of the Zimbabwe Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS7).
The MICS survey plays a vital role in gathering national data on a wide range of socio-economic indicators concerning children, women, and men. The last survey was conducted in 2019.
“The Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT), in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), is pleased to announce the commencement of the 2025 Zimbabwe Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey Round 7 (MICS7).
“The Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) is an international household survey program designed to collect estimates of key indicators that assess the situation of children and women,” ZIMSTAT said in a statement.
Over the past three decades, ZIMSTAT said, MICS has evolved to meet changing data needs, expanding from 28 indicators in its first round to more than 200 in the current one.
“It has become a key source of data on child protection, early childhood education, child health, and nutrition.
“MICS is the only survey that specifically covers a broad range of topics directly impacting the rights and well-being of children in Zimbabwe, including health, nutrition, water, sanitation, hygiene (WASH), education, child protection, social protection, and gender,” added ZIMSTAT.
The survey monitors progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030 and Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030.
“Besides providing data for monitoring national and global commitments, MICS helps track progress towards the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“The 2025 MICS will update and complement existing data, providing indispensable insights into the situation of children and families amid evolving data needs.
“The survey will track progress toward SDG 2030 targets, the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), the UNICEF Country Programme, and Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030. Furthermore, the results will support the evaluation of the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) and inform the formulation of NDS2, guiding evidence-based policy design, budgeting, and advocacy for children’s welfare,” the agency said.
Enumerators have since been trained with support from the Government of Zimbabwe and UNICEF.
“As the Government continues to strengthen frameworks for SDG monitoring and national planning, investments in robust, timely, and high-quality data collection remain crucial.
“Key milestones such as the pretesting of survey instruments and the training and equipping of enumerators have already been achieved through the support of the Government of Zimbabwe and UNICEF.
“The 2025 MICS is being implemented by ZIMSTAT in collaboration with key stakeholders in Government and Development Partners.
“During this exercise, ZIMSTAT enumerators will visit all households within selected enumeration areas across the country. Enumerators will carry official MICS identification cards and regalia to authenticate their identity.
“The MICS7 is conducted under the authority of the Census and Statistics Act, and all information collected is strictly confidential.
“Data gathered will be used solely for statistical purposes to support the formulation, implementation, and monitoring of development projects and programs.
“ZIMSTAT calls upon all selected households to cooperate fully with enumerators and provide accurate information during the data collection exercise.
“The credibility and success of this important national initiative depend on the active participation of every household,” noted ZIMSTAT.
