Interview with a former prominent chief statistician – Mr. Musaemura Guest Charumbira, former Botswana's Government Statistician and Chair of the UN Statistical Commission

Published on 12/2/2022

By ECA

We are very glad to receive today for this interview, Mr. Musaemura Guest Charumbira, former Botswana's Government Statistician and Chair of the UN Statistical Commission

In fact, we are currently conducting a series of short interviews with former prominent chief statisticians on the continent. Through this interview we aim at recognizing and commending their contribution to the statistical development in Africa.

Through this interview, we also ask them about their opinion on some current topics based on their experience in the field.

Question 1: Can you please introduce yourself? (Name, Nationality, Statistical experience, …)

My name is Musaemura Guest Charumbira. Most people refer to me by my middle name “Guest”. I am a citizen of Botswana by registration. I was born in Zimbabwe and did my education up to school certificate (ordinary level). I joined the Central Statistics Office of Botswana in 1970 as an enumerator and worked and studied statistics through the years until I became head of department in 1988. In all, I served the office for 32 years (14 as head of the department).

To sum it up effectively, I can say I grew up with the statistical system of Botswana. This is because post-independence statistical activities of Botswana were guided by the Statistics Act of Botswana (1967). Botswana became independent from Britain in 1966. Though statistical activities prior to this involved population census operations through colonial requirements, proper statistical activities maybe said to have taken off the ground after independence. At the time I joined the service, there was only a handful of professionals; largely seconded from the United Kingdom (the former colonial master).

I have a Masters’ degree in Social Statistics from the University of Southampton in the UK. My statistical training was largely acquired through the in-service program offered through the Government of Botswana, the United Nations System, the UK and other development partners.

As head of the Botswana statistical service from 1988 to 2002, I positively contributed to the growth of the Botswana statistical system as well as the African statistical system in general. Among some of the notable achievements are:

• Coordinating 2 censuses of population and housing for Botswana (1991 and 2001). The 2001 was the first census in Botswana to be conducted without the “usual” UNFPA or external collaboration. In other words, it was largely executed by locals.

This was deemed one of the best executed censuses in Africa at the time. The results were published in exceptionally good time and appreciated by major users. This was possible because the government of the day was very responsive to the needs of statistical development.

Alongside these censuses, Botswana had a phenomenally successful household survey programme (Continuous Household Integrated Program of Surveys- code-named “CHIPS” and later renamed the Household Survey Program). This program was designed to serve all major users of statistics. This largely followed the recommendations of the African Household Survey Program.

• The area of economic statistics was largely coordinated through the well-developed business register.

• Chairing the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Statistical Committee from its formation in 1995 until my retirement. One of the major achievements was the pioneering of a Regional Statistical Strategy for SADC as a way of coordinating joint statistical development for the sub-region.

• Co-Chairing the Partnerships in Statistics in Development (PARIS21) at its founding.

• Chairing the United Nations Statistical Commission in 1999 and 2000.

• Hosting the Conference of Commonwealth Conference of Statisticians in the year 2000.

Question 2: How do you see the evolution in the field of official statistics on the continent during the last decades with regard to the production and dissemination of data?

Statistics is a relatively new subject on the continent. Many countries established their statistical systems following independence. Production of statistics on the continent was largely neglected by African governments.

There are 2 main streams of statistical activities. One is surveys and censuses (household surveys and business surveys) and the other is administrative data. Many African countries tended to concentrate efforts on surveys and censuses. There was insufficient attention to processing of administrative data. Administrative data provide a rich source of statistics.

When properly processed and analysed, these help in assessing governance issues. In other words, are governments performing? Surveys and censuses ought to complement statistics obtained through administrative systems. Processing of administrative data is still not up to the mark to this very day.

During the 80’s and 90’s, The ECA Statistics Division used to convene useful meetings regularly to take stock of African statistical development. These meetings had various names: conference of African Statisticians, conference of African planners and statisticians, conference of African planners, demographers, statisticians, and IT specialists, etc.

During these well attended meetings, African professionals would brain-storm about the problems faced in producing statistics needed for development. Some countries were producing useful statistics while others were generally struggling. Many reasons were advanced for lack of statistical production by those that were struggling. These ranged from lack of recognition of statistics by governments, lack of computing equipment and capacity (during the era of mainframe computers were largely for government accounts and payroll), staff turnover, etc.

As of today, some of these problems have since been resolved while new problems emerge. For example, computing equipment shortage is not a major problem any longer since in most countries, professionals have some access to a desk-top computer!  This said, many countries still do not produce enough!

Many countries on the continent largely depended on partner financing for statistical activities. In other words, statistical activities were largely donor driven and did not necessarily meet local user-needs. For a complete exposition of this, the Addis Ababa Plan of Action for Statistical Development in the 1990’s has elaborated on this very effectively. This study was by the Economic Commission for Africa.  

Following this exposition of the problems of African Statistics, there have been several initiatives to try and improve statistics on the continent (and the Third World at large). According to me, PARIS21 has proposed major initiatives, including statistical development plans. Some countries have taken these initiatives seriously and improvements are notable. However, some observers have pointed out that most countries do not follow these statistical plans to the letter.

Question 3: On November 18, African countries celebrated African Statistics Day 2020, the theme of which was: "Modernizing national statistical systems to provide data and statistics to support sustainable peace and development in Africa". What are your thoughts on this theme? What can the celebration of such a day help to achieve on the continent?

This was a very appropriate theme. We may recall a familiar statement by a former finance minister of South Africa: “If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it”. There is no doubt that statistics plays a major role in development planning. Peace and development go alongside poverty eradication.

All countries in Africa still have poverty problems. There is a need to produce timely and relevant statistics to address these development problems; and poverty remains one of the issues that needs to be tackled consistently in all our countries. There is a need to remind all concerned about the importance of statistics to address these developmental issues.

Regarding the regular celebration of African Statistics Day, I can say this should continue to be done annually with an appropriate theme from time to time. This is one positive way of promoting statistics as a development subject; as well as encouraging young persons to appreciate it as an important subject alongside other professions of repute such as engineering and so on. Statistics is part of applied mathematics. It ought to be sufficiently advertised so as to attract bright scholars.

Question 4: What are the current main challenges of national statistical systems in Africa and what solutions do you propose?

First and foremost, it should be acknowledged that it is quite a while since I left active statistical service (some 18 years or so); though I continue to be interested in contributing to general statistical development to the extent possible. As such, I do not have a thorough knowledge of what prevails in most of the African countries, save what I gain through current literature and direct contact with those countries where I have had privilege of serving on a consultancy basis when opportunities do arise. Nevertheless, it does appear there have not been major shifts as compared with the past 20 years or so.

There are several challenges facing statistical systems. They may be ranked differently from country to country. A common feature for all countries is lack of resources; be it financial or human. This is a problem that may not be resolved overnight. Since statistics is a cross-cutting issue, there is need for strong management systems to ensure that the meagre resources are utilised optimally.

Management training has not taken centre stage in addressing statistical problems in many of our countries. It is one area that ought to take centre stage as we progress. Good managers know how to deploy resources in a sound manner.

Question 5: There are many stakeholders in the field of strengthening statistical capacity on the continent; what mechanism should be put in place for better collaboration?

Many ideas have been put forward for strengthening statistical capacity. Statistical planning and coordination should continue to be encouraged. In other words, Central Statistical agencies should be encouraged to play their role as leaders in the statistical production process to make sure that sectoral ministries do not operate in isolation. Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs as they are usually denoted), are producers of a wide variety of data that can be put to good use.

In some of the countries, these entities are left alone. In other words, some of these entities lack basic statistical knowledge and do not utilise the data they gather in their day-to-day operations for the benefit of the public.   On the other hand, statistical agencies usually complain of lack of capacity for statistical analysis when universities and research agencies have capacity to assist in handling data from surveys and censuses.

PARIS21 have thus far provided useful guidelines for improving statistical capacity. PARIS21 has been in existence for well over 20 years. Since its establishment, useful literature has been developed to assist African statistical systems and other developing countries in the development of statistical systems. The ideas advanced in documentations provided by PARIS21 have been developed following elaborate consultations amongst relevant stakeholders in the statistical field since its formation of PARIS21.

There have been other statistical development initiatives over the years. They all complement each other. A point worth repeating is that there is abundant literature to assist statistical development on the continent.

Your final word.

We are at cross-roads. Covid-19 has brought further complications for statistical operations. There is need for innovations. For those countries carrying out a census of population and housing this year or soon, we can only wish them good luck! It will be a complicated process!

Interview conducted in February 2021.