Kuku RPT Final

ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS
ACBF African Capacity Building Fund

CCZ Consumer Council of Zimbabwe
CPI Consumer Price Index
Director of
census &
statistics
Deputy Director
Social and Population
!"#A$%
!"#A$%di&ision $
Assistant
Director
Census and
Sur&eys Branc'
Deputy Director
%conomic
Statistics
Di&ision
Assistant
Director
Social Statistics
(ouse'old
Sur&eys
Population
Census
Computing
D$P and
Printing
(ealt' and )ital
Statistics
%n&ironmental
Statistics
International
igration and
$ourism
%mployment and
%ducation
*udicial Social
+elfare
Statistics
Social indicators
and ,i&ing
Conditions
#ender Statistics
Assistant
Director
Production
Statistics
Assistant
Director
Income Analysis
Agriculture
Statistics
Foreign $rade
Statistics
Production
Statistics
"ational
Accounts
Statistics
Financial
Statistics
Prices Statistics
Informal
Statistics
$raining
ZIMSTAT MINISTRY OF FINANCE
ZIMBABWE
ZIMBABWE NATIONAL STATISTICS AGENCY

CS- Central Statistical -ffice
CSPro Census and Sur&ey Processing System
#DP #ross Domestic Product
ICP International Comparison Programme
"#- "on #o&ernmental -rganisation
.BZ .eser&e Ban/ of Zimbabwe
SDF Statistical De&elopment Fund
!" !nited "ations
+B +orld Ban/
IPS Intergrated icro Computer Processing
ISSA Intergrated System for Sur&ey Analysis
KUDZAI DIVIRIMWE: WORK RELATED LEARNING REPO.$ 0
ZIMBABWE

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Abstract i
%xecuti&e Summary ii
Ac/nowledgements iii
CHAPTER ONE
12 (istorical De&elopment 3ZIS$A$4 21
120 -rganisational Culture 0
125 )ision 0
126 ission Statement 5
127 Core )alues 5
CHAPTER TWO
021 Principal Ser&ices and C'aracteristics 5
020 $'e main mar/ets8clients ser&ed by ZIS$A$ 6
025 $'e industry in w'ic' ZIS$A$ operates 9
026 $'e principal products or ser&ices :
02621 $'e principal products from t'e Prices Statistics Section :
02620 Products from t'e Finance Section 10
ZIMBABWE

02625 Products from t'e "ational Accounts Section 16
02 7 $'e suppliers of t'e main inputs 17
029 ain sources of competition and t'e company;s position in ri&alry 1:
02: Impact of t'e c'anging en&ironment< social attitudes< and t'e economy and
go&ernment policies upon 1=
02 = $'e types of tec'nology used at ZIS$A$ 05
CHAPTER 3
521 -rgani>ational Structure 09
520 -rganisational C'art 0:
52021 Finance 3Accounts4 Section 0=
52020 (uman .esources 5?
52025 Administration 51
CHAPTER 4
621 $'e +or/ roles< tas/s and responsibilities 50
CHAPTER 5
721 $'e organisation;s strengt's 59
720 $'e organisation;s wea/nesses 5=
CHAPTER 6
921 $'e organi>ation;s opportunities 61
920 $'e organisation;s t'reats 65
CHAPTER 7
:21 ZIS$A$;s successes as measured by its mission and declared ob@ecti&es 67
CHAPTER 8
=21 $'e ar/et8Clients; perceptions of ZIS$A$ and its operations 6=
CHAPTER
A21 Differences8discrepancies between t'e degree programme and t'e wor/ practices
carried out at ZIS$A$ 7?
A20 Personal De&elopments 70
A25 .ecommendations 76
A2521 .ecommendations to t'e organi>ation 76
A2520 .ecommendations to t'e Department of Accounts 77
ZIMBABWE

A2525 Conclusion 2277
A!"#$%&#
$'is report is prepared in partialBfulfilment of t'e reCuirements of t'e Bac'elor of
Accountancy (onours +or/ .elated ,earning experience t'at spans for t'e mont's
academic obtained at t'e Central Statistical -ffice 3ZIS$A$4 B (arare2 Information
contained in t'is report was acCuired t'roug' Dday to day acti&itiesE and CS-
publications2 $'e report see/s to portray a conceptual framewor/ of my experiences
during t'e era of my industrial attac'ment at ZIS$A$2 $'e report will 'ig'lig't t'e
organi>ational bac/ground of CS-< its operations< t'e resulting products and ser&ices it
offers< gi&ing an o&er&iew of 'ow t'e t'eory I acCuired at t'e uni&ersity managed to
simplify t'e duties I performed during my period in t'e Administration and Finance
Section2
ZIMBABWE

E'(&)#*+( S),,%$-
$'e t'rust of t'is report is to un&eil in detail and precisely t'e wor/ experience at
ZIS$A$2 $'e report outlines t'e responsibilities< processes of wor/ and duties
undergone in eac' respecti&e department2 $'e writer introduces t'e brief 'istory of
ZIS$A$< its &ision< t'e mission statement and t'e organi>ational structure2 $'e second
section concentrates on t'e nature of ZIS$A$< strengt's< wea/nesses< opportunities and
t'reats2 $'e ot'er c'apters outline t'e personal and professional de&elopment gained by
t'e student during t'e attac'ment2 $'e student ends up by concluding t'e report and
ma/ing some recommendations to bot' t'e organi>ation of attac'ment and Bindura
!ni&ersity2
ZIMBABWE

A&./012(34(,(/#"
I would li/e to extend special regards to my family especially my mom and abo&e all< t'e
Almig'ty #od for gi&ing me t'e grace and t'e strengt' t'at 'as broug't me t'is far<
prospering during my mont's of my wor/Brelated learning2 I also wis' to express utmost
gratitude to r S Di&irimwe for t'e financial and spiritual support t'ey ga&e2 ay t'e
,ord continue to bless t'em abundantly2
Special mention goes to all Central Statistical -ffice staff and management for creating
an en&ironment suitable for wor/ and training of students2 y earnest gratitude goes to
my super&isor r C'i@o/we< my wor/ mates< r utod>aniswa< iss uc'aron>a< r
"gwenya< r +as'aya and all my fellow students also on attac'ment for t'e /nowledge<
support and moti&ation gi&en during t'e period of attac'ment2
I;m extremely grateful to lo&ely friend * utan'a for reading t'e first draft of t'e
manuscript< ma/ing 'elpful suggestions and ma/ing me more firm to t'e c'allenges of
life
KUDZAI DIVIRIMWE: WORK RELATED LEARNING REPO.$ :
ZIMBABWE

C5%6#($ 7
787 H*"#0$*&%2 D(+(206,(/#
$'e Britis' Sout' African Company 3BSAC4 establis'ed a .ecord and Statistical
Department in 1==6 and t'e following year t'e first census was carried out in Bulawayo
in w'ic' t'e ining Commissioners supplied estimates of t'e mining population and t'e
Ci&il Commissioner pro&ided t'e urban figures2 An InterBCensal Demograp'ic Sur&ey
was t'en carried out in Salisbury 3now (arare4 in 1=A: and information was collected
t'roug' t'e Acting agistrate2 By 1A06 a number of offices operated independently in
t'e collection of statisticsF
&ital statistics were collected by t'e Public (ealt' Department
criminal statistics by t'e ,aw Department
cattle statistics by t'e )eterinary Department
Postal statistics by t'e PostBmaster #eneral< and so on2
In 1A0= all t'e different statistical offices were 'armoni>ed toget'er to form a Statistical
Bureau2 $'e Statistical Bureau started operating in 1A0A under t'e inistry of (ome
Affairs< it consisted of a trained #o&ernment Statisticians< In&estigators< and Statistical
KUDZAI DIVIRIMWE: WORK RELATED LEARNING REPO.$ =
ZIMBABWE

Cler/s2 In 1A77< a Census and Statistics Act was passed and t'is saw t'e Statistical
Bureau @oining t'e inistry of Finance and Commerce before it t'en mo&ed to t'e
inistry of %conomic Affairs in 1A9?2 $'e following year t'e Department t'en c'anged
its name to Central Statistical -ffice and was transferred to t'e inistry of Finance and
%conomic De&elopment in 1A=12Following t'e split of t'e inistry of Finance and
%conomic De&elopment into two separate ministries in April 0??7 it t'en operated under
t'e inistry of Finance2 $'e CS- presently 'olds a semiBautonomous status2 It was
renamed Zimbabwe "ational Statistics Agency 3ZIS$A$42 It is now expected to ensure
efficiency and accountability2
789 O$4%/*:%#*0/%2 C)2#)$(
$'e culture of an organi>ation is an amalgamation of t'e &alues and beliefs of t'e people
in an organi>ation2 It can be felt in t'e implicit rules and expectations of be'a&iour in an
organi>ation w'ere< e&en t'oug' t'e rules are not formally written down employees
/now w'at is expected of t'em2 It is usually set by management w'ose decisions on
policy usually set up t'e culture of t'e organi>ation2 $'e organi>ation culture 'as &alues
and beliefs t'at support t'e organi>ational goals2 $'e culture of t'e organi>ation if it is
positi&e and 'elpful can 'elp to moti&ate t'e staff2 An organi>ation culture needs to be
managed in order to maintain a positi&e culture and 'ence t'e need to 'a&e a clearly
defined &ision and mission statement< and t'e core &alues2
783 V*"*0/
$o be t'e leading world class producer of national statistics
784 M*""*0/ S#%#(,(/#
$o contribute to national de&elopment t'roug' t'e production and dissemination of
timely and accurate national statistics t'at facilitateG
Policy formulation
Planning and decision ma/ing
KUDZAI DIVIRIMWE: WORK RELATED LEARNING REPO.$ A
ZIMBABWE

%&aluation and researc'
$ransparency and good go&ernance
B$'is will be ac'ie&ed using automated tec'nology wit' 'ig'ly s/illed and moti&ated
staff2
785 C0$( +%2)("
In pursuit of t'e mission< t'e office 'olders s'all be respectful< courteous< open<
transparent and responsi&e to bot' users and suppliers of data2 $'is will ensure 'ig' le&el
of confidentiality of information in producing a 'ig' Cuality statistical ser&ice wit'
professionalism and integrity
CHAPTER 9
ZIMSTAT OPERATIONS
987 T5( 6$*/&*6%2 "($+*&(" %/3 &5%$%&#($*"#*&"
ZIS$A$ 'as a wide range of ser&ices to boast of2 $'is is because of 'a&ing a pool of
'ig'ly educated tas/ force< coupled wit' a compre'ensi&e data base and a wide range of
ad&anced tec'nology2 Some of t'e ser&ices offered by ZIS$A$ and t'eir c'aracteristics
areGB

D*""(,*/%#*/4 0;;*&*%2 "#%#*"#*&"
ZIS$A$ is responsible for t'e production and dissemination of timely and accurate
national statistics suc' as inflation figures and po&erty datum lines2 Sta/e'olders also
obtain statistics suc' as #DP statistics< (ealt' statistics< ,abour statistics< Agriculture
statistics and Crime statistics among ot'er ser&ices2
C%$$-*/4 0)# ")$+(-"
ZIS$A$ also carry out sur&eys for ot'er organisations2 $a/ing for example "on
#o&ernmental organi>ations suc' as t'e International onetary Fund< !nited "ations<
P-$.AZ and !"IC%F often assigns ZIS$A$ to carry out sur&eys for t'em2
KUDZAI DIVIRIMWE: WORK RELATED LEARNING REPO.$ 1?
ZIMBABWE

D%#% &%6#)$*/4 "($+*&("
ZIS$A$ also offers t'e ser&ices of data entry to ot'er #o&ernment departments< "on
#o&ernmental organisations and ot'er institutions< wit' its pool of tec'nology and its
well experienced and 'ig'ly educated staff2
T$%*/*/4 "($+*&("
$'e organi>ation also offers training ser&ices to its members of staff< parastatals suc' as
$obacco .esearc' organi>ations and t'e Central go&ernment2 ZIS$A$ offers training in
areas suc' as mat'ematics< statistics< computing science and economics up to diploma
le&els2
D%#% 6$0&(""*/4 "($+*&("
$'e Zimbabwe "ational Statistics Agency 'as data processing ser&ices on offer2 $'e
organi>ation processes data for ot'er institutions since it 'as a wide range of efficient
tec'nology< a 'ig'ly experienced and competent staff2 ZIS$A$ can carry out a sur&ey
for an organi>ation< enter t'e resulting information from t'e sur&ey into a computer using
a rele&ant software pac/age and proceed to process t'e data2
A3+*"0$- "($+*&("
$'e Zimbabwe "ational Statistics Agency also 'as ad&isory ser&ices in place using its
compre'ensi&e data base< 'ig'ly educated and experienced staff2 $a/ing for example t'e
Prices Statistics Section offer ad&isory ser&ices suc' as t'e re&aluing of money balances<
prices< salaries and assets using t'e Consumer Price Index2
S%,62( 3("*4/ "($+*&("
$'e organi>ation also offers sample design ser&ices2 In t'is case< t'e organi>ation 'elps
ot'er institutions in determining t'e sample si>e and t'e sample frame for t'e sur&eys t'at
t'ey would want to execute2
989 T5( ,%*/ ,%$.(#"<&2*(/#" "($+(3 !- ZIMSTAT
ZIMBABWE

ZIS$A$ ser&ed a number of sta/e'olders and 'as a wide mar/et for its products
and ser&ices2 Some of t'e sta/e'olders includeGB
$'e #o&ernment
Financial Institutions
Business fraternity
"on #o&ernmental -rgani>ations
Indi&iduals
T5( G0+($/,(/#
$'e go&ernment is t'e ma@or user of official statistics and t'erefore t'e main mar/et
ser&ed by ZIS$A$2 $'e go&ernment obtains statistical information from ZIS$A$
w'ic' it t'en uses in planning and policy formulation< t'roug' its departments and
ministries2 $a/ing for instance< t'e go&ernment t'roug' t'e ministry of finance uses t'e
CPI w'ic' is a product of ZIS$A$< in determining t'e tax brac/et 2$'e ministry also
ma/es t'e national budget using t'e CPI 3inflation figures42
$'e go&ernment< t'roug' t'e .eser&e ban/< also ma/es and announces t'e monetary
policy and t'e fiscal policy wit' t'e aid of t'e CPI2 $'e monetary aut'orities set t'e
interest rates and t'e exc'ange rates by use of CPI2 #o&ernment also gets 'ealt' statistics<
employment statistics< #DP statistics< criminal statistics etc from ZIS$A$ to use in
macro economic policy formulation2
T5( F*/%/&*%2 */"#*#)#*0/"
Financial institutions li/e commercial ban/s< merc'ant ban/s< building societies< and
discount 'ouses obtain statistical information of &ital use from ZIS$A$2 In particular<
t'e CPI to determine t'e interest rates and t'e exc'ange rates and in principle t'e
exc'ange rate between two currencies s'ould eCual t'e inflation rate2 In&estors use t'e
CPI as a benc'mar/ on w'at t'ey s'ould expect on t'eir portfolios2 $'ey also use t'e CPI
to allocate funds to t'ose assets t'at beat inflation so as to preser&e t'eir wealt'2
B
ZIMBABWE

T5( !)"*/("" ;$%#($/*#-
$'e business organi>ations in form of pri&ate and public companies all use statistical
information pro&ided by t'e ZIS$A$ to ad@ust prices for t'eir products and also to
ad@ust wages and salaries for t'eir employees2 Companies also &alue t'eir assets using t'e
CPI2 In most cases assets 'a&e to be ad@usted in line wit' t'e inflation trends so as to at
least maintain t'e purc'asing power2
T5( N0/ G0+($/,(/#%2 O$4%/*:%#*0/" =NGO">
$'e international organi>ations and t'e "#-s suc' as t'e International monetary fund
3IF4< !"IC%F< !nited "ations 3!"4 and t'e +orld Ban/ 3+B4 etc< also ser&es as
mar/ets for products from t'e ZIS$A$2 +e find t'at t'ese international boards obtain
&ital statistical data from ZIS$A$ w'ic' t'ey use in assessing t'ings li/e standards of
li&ing for countries and also comparisons between countries2 $'ey get #DP statistics
from ZIS$A$ w'ic' determines if t'e economy is growing or not and also gi&es
income per capita2 Statistics would t'en 'elp t'ese boards to t'e areas w'ic' need
attention2
T5( I/3*+*3)%2"
$'e people also need products pro&ided by ZIS$A$< meaning t'at t'ey are one of t'e
main sta/e'olders of ZIS$A$2 +e find t'at people are /een to /now t'e inflation rate
and t'e Po&erty lines for &arious reasons2 People would want to /now 'ealt' statistics< for
example t'e number of people dying of (I)8AIDS on a wee/ly or mont'ly basis< etc2
People would also want to /now t'e crime rate< t'e rate of unemployment< #DP statistics
and many ot'er statistics2
9838 T5( */3)"#$- */ 15*&5 ZIMSTAT 06($%#("8
$'e ZIS$A$ operates in t'e ser&ice industry and 'as t'e responsibility of carrying out
sur&eys< measuring< communicating and timeously disseminating information
nationwide2 $'is is a &ery expensi&e business for indi&iduals and small companies to
&enture2 $'erefore< t'e Zimbabwean #o&ernment finances acti&ities wit'in t'e
ZIMBABWE

ZIS$A$2 ZIS$A$ 'as been transformed into a semiBautonomous organi>ation< t'at is<
'alf owned by t'e #o&ernment and 'alf by t'e public2
Despite 'uge cas' outflows encountered in producing all sorts of statistics< t'e ZIS$A$
is non profit ma/ing but is t'ere to pro&ide information to t'e public and businesses so as
to ensure consistence in policy formulation< planning< budgeting< pricing and &aluing
assets2
-perations at ZIS$A$ are based on t'e belief t'at one can only manage w'at 'e can
Cuantify2 $'us< ZIS$A$ is t'ere to ensure t'at public and pri&ate businesses are
managed properly so as to ac'ie&e 'ig' standard of li&ing and economic growt'2
Data is obtained t'roug' sur&eys carried out from t'e country;s ten pro&inces2 Sur&eying
is t'e process of collecting data< w'ic' reCuires good public relations and ideal
Cuestionnaires2 Since sur&eying is &ery expensi&e< not e&ery outlet is sur&eyed but a
sample 3part of t'e population4 of w'ic' must represent t'e total population2 $'erefore<
t'e industry reCuires s/illed personal to determine a sample t'at represents t'e total
population2
984 T5( 6$*/&*6%2 6$03)&#" 0$ "($+*&("8
$'e outputs of ZIS$A$ come mainly in t'e form of official statistics< s/illed
manpower< digitali>ed maps< consultancy ser&ices and t'e sample frames or business
registers2 (owe&er official statistics &ary wit' eac' and e&ery department and section2
I;m going to explain official statistics in accordance wit' departments2
2
98487 T5( 6$*/&*6%2 6$03)&#" ;$0, #5( P$*&(" S#%#*"#*&" S(&#*0/
$'is section is responsible for t'e calculation of indices t'at measure c'anges in cost for
consumers< producers< contractors and ot'ers2 $'e ma@or publications from t'is section
are t'e consumer price index< producer price index and po&erty datum lines2 $'e section
also conducts t'e International Comparison Programme on be'alf of t'e Zimbabwean
#o&ernment2
ZIMBABWE

$'e section 'as t'e responsibility of collecting data< editing< analysis and computing t'e
indices accordingly2 $'e section 'as t'e responsibility of gi&ing explanations about t'e
computation and t'e use of any of t'e abo&eBmentioned indices to any interested party2 In
general< t'e indices are positi&ely correlated since t'ey all measure c'anges in cost of
goods and ser&ices2
T5( C0/"),($ P$*&( I/3(' =CPI>
$'e Consumer Price Index is considered t'e most widely measure of inflation w'ic' is
t'e rate at w'ic' t'e purc'asing power of consumers is falling i2e2 increase in prices2 It is
t'us regarded as an effecti&e indicator of fiscal and monetary policies pursued2 $'e CPI
consists of a bas/et of goods trac/ed from mont' to mont' and ser&ices w'ic' are mainly
boug't by consumers for final consumption2 $'e result of
t'e calculations is an a&erage at w'ic' t'e rate of prices of goods and ser&ices will be
c'anging2 $'e collection points are widely distributed 3in bot' t'e rural and urban areas4
o&er t'e country to e&en out price fluctuations in pro&inces2
U"(" 0; #5( CPI %/3 */;2%#*0/ $%#("
$'e Consumer Price Index is considered t'e most widely measure of inflation w'ic' is
t'e rate at w'ic' t'e purc'asing power of consumers is c'angingF inflation is deri&ed
from t'e Consumer Price Index figure2
%8 Is used to measure of inflation as it affects 'ouse'olds and t'us pro&ides a benc'mar/
on w'at in&estors s'ould expect on t'eir portfolios2 $'e aim is to allocate funds to
t'ose assets t'at beat inflation so as preser&e one;s wealt'2
!8 $'e CPI is used as an ad@ustment factor or coefficient for indexation of prices< wages
and salaries and &aluation of assets2 It is used mainly used for deflating #DP figures
so as to come wit' constant prices compared to one base year2 In most cases assets
'a&e to be ad@usted in line wit' t'e inflation trends so as to at least maintain t'e
purc'asing power2 In accounting< financial statements 'a&e to be ad@usted in
ZIMBABWE

accordance wit' inflation w'ic' pre&ailed in t'e period under re&iew in
'yperinflationary en&ironments as t'e one currently obtaining in Zimbabwe2 In
accordance wit' t'e pro&isions of t'e IAS 0A< accounts in 'yperinflationary
en&ironments 'a&e to be ad@usted for inflation2 It is t'erefore important t'at t'e
ZIS$A$ publis'es reliable figures w'ic' would allow for accounting statements to
s'ow true and fair &iew2
&8 CPI is an important instrument for formulation of monetary and fiscal policies2
onetary aut'orities set interest rates and exc'ange rates by use of inflation figures
deri&ed from t'e CPI2 In principle< t'e exc'ange rate between two currencies s'ould
be eCual to t'e inflation differential o&er t'e period2 Fiscal aut'orities use it to
determine tax brac/ets2 $'e purpose of any policy is to create a stable macro
en&ironment so t'at inflation remains low2 In a world of little or no #o&ernment
interference< t'e inflation rates s'ould sa&e as a barometer as to w'at t'e exc'ange
rate s'ould be2 $'is is in line wit' t'e t'eory of .elati&e Purc'asing Power Parity
w'ic' states t'at expected inflation differentials between two countries s'ould be
eCual to t'e future exc'ange rate2 $'is means t'at t'e currency wit' t'e 'ig'er
inflation s'ould depreciate against t'e low inflation rate currency2 %xc'ange rates
s'ould ad@ust according to trends in inflation2 Due to #o&ernment interference
t'roug' t'e .BZ< t'e exc'ange rate is being 'eld constant defying t'e basic economic
fundamentals2 $'is is anot'er factor w'ic' 'as dri&en inflation due to speculation
t'roug' t'e blac/ mar/et w'ere t'e exc'ange rate is allowed to depreciate in
accordance wit' t'e obtaining inflation rates2 ost de&eloping countries use a
crawling peg in exc'ange rate management and t'ese are arri&ed after factoring in
inflation mo&ements2
T5( P$03)&($ P$*&( I/3(' =PPI>
$'e PPI is a Cuarterly index t'at measures c'anges in t'e cost of production2 It is t'e
inflation experienced by producers2 It measures c'anges in t'e cost of inputs or raw
materials used in t'e production process and sometimes 'a&e corollary effects to t'e
ZIMBABWE

Consumer price index2 $'is is because producers 'a&e t'e tendency to pass o&er t'e
burden to t'e final consumer2
$o calculate t'e PPI< we find t'e price relati&e and multiply it by t'e pre&ious index
w'ic' is used as t'e weig't2 $'e PPI is most widely used by producers in ad@usting t'eir
prices and in budgeting so as to ensure sustainability and consistence in supply and t'us
protecting t'eir reputation2
P0+($#- D%#), L*/(" =PDL>
$'e Po&erty Datum ,ine 3PD,4 is defined as t'e cost of a gi&en standard of li&ing t'at
must be attained if a person is deemed not to be poor2 $'e PD, can be bro/en into two
parts namely
3a4 $'e Food Po&erty Datum ,ine 3FPD,4
3b4 $'e $otal consumption Po&erty ,ine 3$CP,4
$'e FPD, represents t'e minimum consumption expenditure necessary to ensure t'at
eac' 'ouse'old member can consume a minimum food bas/et representing 01?? /ilo
calories 3assuming all expenditures were de&oted to food42 $'is implies t'at an indi&idual
w'ose total expenditure does not exceed t'e food po&erty line is deemed to be poor2 $'e
total consumption po&erty line represents t'e minimum consumption expenditure for all
t'e expenditures 3food and non food items4 necessary for a family of fi&e to be deemed
not poor2 $'e $CP, is always a figure abo&e t'e FPD, since t'e food po&erty line
constitutes part of t'e total consumption po&erty line2 $'erefore t'e two are positi&ely
correlated2
I/#($/%#*0/%2 C0,6%$*"0/ P$04$%,,(= ICP>
$'e ICP is an international program being carried out in many countries and continents2
(owe&er< not all countries are participating in t'e exercise2 It is being administered by
t'e !nited "ations and +orld Ban/ t'roug' &arious continental bodies for easy
coordination2 $'e two bodies are also responsible for funding t'e pro@ect< as some of t'e
KUDZAI DIVIRIMWE: WORK RELATED LEARNING REPO.$ 1:
ZIMBABWE

countries do not 'a&e t'e capacity to ban/roll it on t'eir own2 In Africa< t'e African
De&elopment Ban/ 3ADB4 is coordinating it and countries 'a&e been grouped according
to t'e official languages used to allow easy exc'ange of notes2
$'is program resulted from t'e difficulties in'erent in interBcountry
Comparisons using t'e traditional #ross Domestic Product 3#DP4 Approac'2 $'erefore<
t'e programme see/s to enable t'e calculation of a special type of exc'ange rate /nown
as t'e Purc'asing Power Parity 3PPP4 w'ic' is based on t'e comparison of prices and
t'us reflecting t'e mar/et reality2 $'is would also allow economists to compare wealt' in
participating countries to determine countries w'ere donor funds can be allocated2
$'e main aim is to come up wit' an a&erage price from t'e bas/et of t'e goods and
ser&ices t'at was constructed after wider consultations wit' country representati&es2
O!?(&#*+(" 0; ICP
$o calculate t'e Purc'asing Power Parity of t'e currency combinations in t'e
bas/et and t'is s'all be used for con&ersion of #DP figures to one currency for
comparison sa/e w'ic' is normally t'e !S Dollar3!S H42 (owe&er< difficulties
arise in determining t'e exc'ange rate for two currencies t'at not are 'ea&ily
traded2 $'ere are some deliberate policies in some countries to ignore t'e .elati&e
Purc'asing Power Parity w'ic' states t'at exc'ange rates 'a&e to ad@ust to
c'anges in consumer price indices between countries2 $'e ICP ta/es into account
inflation mo&ements as t'e same products in its bas/et are t'e ones used for
calculation of t'e CPI and inflation2
$'e information produced will be used to calculate and update po&erty datum
lines in eac' region2 $'e exercise is being used to identify needy areas w'ere
donor funds s'ould be apportioned2 $'e Po&erty Datum ,ines for eac' country
will be con&erted into t'e !S dollar using t'e purc'asing power parity of t'e ICP
results2
KUDZAI DIVIRIMWE: WORK RELATED LEARNING REPO.$ 1=
ZIMBABWE

$o assist in decomposing t'e #DP and its subBaggregates as use of multiple
currencies does not assist in ma/ing interBcountry comparisons2 In t'is regard t'e
#DP figures of t'e participating countries are con&erted to one currency using t'e
recalculated PPP;s2 It becomes easier to directly compare t'e standards of li&ing
across countries under t'e different subBgroups2
(owe&er its ma@or wea/ness is t'at it does not include expenditure on education
and acCuisition of assets by industries 3#ross Capital Formation4 w'ic' are &ital
components in any country2 It is t'en difficult to compare t'e results at national
le&el2 It is only comparable at 'ouse'old le&el2
98489T5( 6$*/&*6%2 6$03)&#" ;$0, #5( ;*/%/&( "(&#*0/
Financial Statistics are aggregates t'at measure and Cuantify monetary flows 3i2e2 income
and expenditure4 and stoc/s 3suc' as assets and liabilities4 existing in t'e economy of a
country 3in t'is case Zimbabwe42$'e Finance Section is responsible for compiling all
finance statistics ranging from interest rates< exc'ange rates< ,ocal and Central
go&ernment expenditures @ust to mention a few2 onetary flows are measured o&er a
period of one year w'ile stoc/s are gi&en at any point in time2 $'e data refers to t'e
income and expenditure and source of origin2 Financial statistics are essential for
planning< monitoring< e&aluation and control2 $'is section collects processes analyses and
disseminates data on financial statistics co&ering issues from &arious sectors of t'e
economy2
$'e Finance section is also responsible for managing t'e database or suc' data obtained
from t'e following institutions by way of secondary sur&eys2 $'e data is mainly collected
from t'e following institutionsF
,ocal #o&ernment
"onBProfit ma/ing organi>ations
KUDZAI DIVIRIMWE: WORK RELATED LEARNING REPO.$ 1A
ZIMBABWE

Financial institutions 3Commercial and merc'ant ban/s< discount 'ouses< building
societies and t'e .BZ4
Central #o&ernment for Parastatals
Iuoted companies
U"(" 0; ;*/%/&*%2 S#%#*"#*&"
Financial aggregates pro&ided are an important part in national accounts compilation2
$'ey are used forF
a/ing comparati&e studies by researc'ers< economists2
%conomic analysis by international bodies suc' as t'e IF and +orld Ban/2
Formulation of monetary and fiscal policies
a/ing in&estment decisions
$'e main tas/ of t'e section is to @ust capture 'istorical data and creating t'e database2 It
plays a complementary role to t'e .BZ2
B%/.*/4 S#%#*"#*&"
$'ese statistics refer to t'e gat'ering and analysis of information from t'e financial
ser&ices sector2 $'e ultimate aim of gat'ering t'e financial statistics data is to come wit'
a Capital Accumulation Account2 "ational Income Iuestionnaires are sent to all financial
institutions concerned2 $'e information reCuired would be on Income and %xpenditure
3Profit and ,oss Account4 and Capital Account 3Balance s'eet42 $'is information is also
&ital in t'e production of t'e #ross Fixed Capital Formation w'ic' is a main element in
production of #DP figures2
Iuestionnaires are returned to t'e section toget'er wit' eac' ban/;s documents< t'e data
is t'en aggregated into its respecti&e sectors namely merc'ant ban/s< commercial ban/s<
discount 'ouses and building societies2 After aggregating t'e information according to t'e
specific line of business< t'ey are aggregated for t'e w'ole industry2
ZIMBABWE

Information is obtained mostly from t'e publis'ed yearBend accounts and t'e .BZ;s
mont'ly re&iews w'ic' s'owF
oney supply growt'
Demand deposits of commercial ban/s
Assets and liabilities of Commercial ban/s
Interest rates for different ban/ing products and ban/s2
Ad&ances made
$'e aggregates are t'en used to compile t'e Iuarterly Digest of Statistics2 $'e
Department is t'ere to complement t'e efforts of t'e .BZ in compilation of financial
statistics2
98483 P$03)&#" ;$0, #5( N%#*0/%2 A&&0)/#" S(&#*0/
$'is "ational Accounts section is responsible for underta/ing sur&eys and calculating
indices suc' as
Calculating #ross Domestic Product by industry of origin namely agriculture<
Finance and Insurance< %ducation< ining and Iuarrying< (ealt' and ot'ers2
Calculating #ross Fixed Capital Formation J t'is see/s to assess t'e c'ange in t'e
fixed assets in t'e economy from t'e pre&ious period2 .e&aluations are also
included in t'e calculations2
Conducting Income< Consumption and expenditure Sur&eys
Compilation of t'e Central #o&ernment;s transactions
G$0"" D0,("#*& P$03)&# =GDP>
$'e #DP is a measure of t'e total domestic economic acti&ity 3production of goods and
ser&ices4 in a period< w'ic' is normally one year to allow for comparisons2 It is t'e sum
of all income earned by t'e production of goods and ser&ices on t'e Zimbabwe economic
territory< w'ere&er t'e earner of income may reside and is a &aluable economic
barometer2 #DP is eCui&alent to t'e &alue added to t'e economy by t'is acti&ity2 )alue
ZIMBABWE

added can be defined as income less intermediate costs2 "ominal #DP growt' reflects
bot' c'anges in t'e economy and price c'anges 3inflation4 o&er t'e accounting period2
$'e #DP is calculated at bot' t'e mar/et and constant prices in order to eliminate t'e
impact of inflation2
G$0"" F*'(3 C%6*#%2 F0$,%#*0/ =GFCF>
It is t'e total &alue of a producer;s acCuisitions less depreciation and disposals of
fixed assets wit'in an accounting period plus certain additions to t'e &alue of nonB
produced assets reali>ed by t'e producti&e acti&ity of institutional units2 It simply
measures t'e c'anges in &alue of fixed assets inclusi&e of re&aluations2
C5%/4( */ S#0&."
It is eCual to t'e &alue of stoc/s acCuired less t'e &alue of in&entories disposed of
during t'e year2 C'anges in in&entory relate to finis'ed goods< wor/ in progress as
well as materials acCuired for production of goods and ser&ices2
$'e #ross Capital Formation gi&es an indicator as to w'ic' direction t'e economy is
'eaded< as its components are t'e mainstay of t'e economic acti&ities2 In a growing
economy< it 'as to s'ow an upward trend and in times of recession it usually goes down
or t'e rate of growt' is stifled2
985 T5( ")662*($" 0; #5( ,%*/ */6)#"
$'e main inputs for t'e production of products or ser&ices at ZIS$A$ are primary and
secondary data< financial resources< material resources< 'uman resources and legislation2
$'e suppliers of primary data and secondary data depend on t'e sur&ey being carried out
and t'e indices aimed to be produced2 Below is a list of t'e main suppliers of t'e main
inputsG
$'e suppliers of main inputs are GB
$'e #o&ernment
ZIMBABWE

"on #o&ernmental -rganisations
(ouse'olds
.etail outlets and +'olesalers
Prisons and police offices
(ospitals and clinics
%ducation institutes
Ban/s and ot'er financial institutions
T5( G0+($/,(/#
$'e #o&ernment is t'e ma@or supplier of t'e financial resources to t'e Zimbabwe
"ational Statistics Agency2 Funds reCuired by ZIS$A$ for data collection< data
processing< and dissemination of -fficial statistics are pro&ided for by t'e #o&ernment in
t'e "ational Budget2 Financial resources would t'en be accessed by t'e organi>ation
t'roug' t'e inistry of Finance w'ic' ZIS$A$ operates in2 $'e #o&ernment also
pro&ides material resources needed by ZIS$A$2 +e find t'at t'e #o&ernment also
supplies material resources suc' as &e'icles< computers< printers< furniture among ot'ers2
N0/ G0+($/,(/#%2 O$4%/*"%#*0/
$'e "#-s pro&ide donor funds and material resources to finance t'e operations of
ZIS$A$2 $'e funds are deposited into t'e treasury so t'at ZIS$A$ will access t'em
t'roug' t'e ministry in w'ic' it would be 'oused at t'at time2
H0)"(5023"
(ouse'olds are one of t'e ma@or suppliers of inputs in t'e form of information to
ZIS$A$2 $'ey supply information depending on t'e sur&ey at 'and and t'e
Cuestionnaire being administered2 $a/ing for instance w'en ZIS$A$ is carrying out a
Census sur&ey< 'ouse'olds supply information on t'e number of people dwelling in a
'ousing unit2 +'en ZIS$A$ conducts an Agriculture and ,i&estoc/ sur&ey< 'ouse'olds
gi&e information on t'e number of li&estoc/ t'ey 'a&e< t'e inputs t'ey put on t'eir land
and t'e output t'ey yield per 'ectare of land2

ZIMBABWE

R(#%*2 0)#2(# %/3 W502("%2("
Selected retail outlets supply information on prices of goods and ser&ices in t'e consumer
bas/et2 Some of t'e supermar/ets selected in (arare are $< -K< etc2 $'e ot'er outlets
include newspaper companies< insurance companies< e2t2c2 $'e prices information enables
ZIS$A$ to compute t'e Consumer Price Index 3Inflation rate4 and t'e Po&erty Datum
,ines2
+'olesales also supply information to ZIS$A$ in t'e form of prices of commodities2
-utlets on t'e sample include *aggers< o'amed ussa and .ed Star w'olesalers2 $'e
prices gi&en by w'olesalers enable computation of CPI and PD,2
P$*"0/"
$'e prisons supplies ZIS$A$ wit' figures on t'e number of prisoners in prisons< t'e
number of &arious crimes committed in different parts of t'e country eac' day< in a wee/
or in a mont'2 $'ese figures enables ZIS$A$ to calculate t'e number of cases
committed for example< 'ow many people are committing suicide< so as to come up wit'
prison and crime statistics2
H0"6*#%2" %/3 &2*/*&"
(ospitals and clinics supply ZIS$A$ wit' important information w'ic' w'en compiled
leads to 'ealt' statistics w'ic' s'ows &ital information li/e t'e rate at w'ic' people are
contracting (I)8AIDS e&ery mont'< t'e number of people dying of (I)8AIDS e&ery
mont' and t'e infant mortality rate2
E3)&%#*0/ */"#*#)#("
Sc'ools and colleges supply ZIS$A$ wit' information on t'e figures of sc'ool fees
t'ey would be c'arging per pupil and t'ese are used in t'e calculation of CPI and PD,2
B%/." %/3 0#5($ ;*/%/&*%2 */"#*#)#*0/"
erc'ant ban/s< Commercial ban/s< building societies and discount 'ouses supply &ital
primary and secondary data w'ic' is of great importance in t'e production of finance
ZIMBABWE

statistics2 ost of t'e information is obtained from t'e publis'ed yearBend accounts and
t'e .BZ; mont'ly re&iews w'ic' s'ows Assets and ,iabilities of commercial ban/s and
demand deposits of commercial ban/s etc2 Information would be on Income and
%xpenditure and t'e Capital Account 3Statement of financial position42$'e information is
also &ital in production of #ross Fixed Capital Formation w'ic' is a main element in t'e
production of #DP figures2
986 M%*/ "0)$&(" 0; &0,6(#*#*0/ %/3 #5( &0,6%/-@" 60"*#*0/ */ $*+%2$-
$'e Zimbabwe "ational Statistics Agency as a non profit ma/ing organisation w'ic'
reCuires a &ast capital outlay initially in its formation and in its day to day operations< it
faces little competition from ot'er organisations2 ZIS$A$ is second to non in t'e
pro&ision of official statistics2
(owe&er t'ere are some organi>ations w'ic' carry out sur&eys and produce products or
statistics similar to t'at of ZIS$A$2 -rgani>ations suc' as $'e Consumer Council of
Zimbabwe 3CCZ4 conduct sur&eys to produce a measure similar to t'e Po&erty Datum
,ine produced by ZIS$A$2 $'e difference lies in t'e nature< items and content of t'e
consumer bas/et2 $'e CCZ li/e ZIS$A$ produces its PD, on a mont'ly basis2
$'e ot'er sources of competition stems from t'e ot'er go&ernment ministries w'ic'
produces statistics of t'eir acti&ities2 $a/ing for example< t'e inistry of (ealt' produces
some 'ealt' statistics< w'ile in anot'er example t'e inistry of $rade produces statistics
on trading acti&ities of t'e country2 +e also 'a&e organi>ations li/e t'e Zimtrade w'ic' is
in t'e business of trade< producing statistics at t'e end of a certain period2 ZIS$A$ on
t'e ot'er 'and would be producing suc' statistics2
$'e Central ban/ on t'e ot'er 'and produces ban/ing and finance statistics @ust li/e
ZIS$A$2 So as a result we can see t'at t'e organi>ation experiences some competition
t'oug' not &ery stiff< maintaining t'e first position in t'e ri&alry2
ZIMBABWE

987 I,6%&# 0; #5( &5%/4*/4 (/+*$0/,(/#A "0&*%2 %##*#)3("A #5( (&0/0,- %/3
40+($/,(/# 602*&*(" )60/:
%> #5( ,%$.(# "($+(3
$'ere is a mutual relations'ip between ZIS$A$ and t'e mar/et t'at it ser&es2 $'e
society largely depends on ZIS$A$ for t'e satisfaction of its needs< suc' as products
and ser&icesF con&ersely< ZIS$A$ depends on its en&ironment for suc' resources as raw
materials 3in t'e form of data4 and t'e mar/et for its products in t'e form of statistical
information< and indices2
$'e mar/et ser&ed by ZIS$A$ consists of institutions suc' as t'e #o&ernment and its
departments< t'e .eser&e ban/ of Zimbabwe< t'e business fraternity< t'e "#-s< t'e
financial institutions and academic institutions2
E;;(&#" 0; #5( #(&5/0204*&%2 (/+*$0/,(/# )60/ #5( ,%$.(#
C'anges in t'e en&ironment is generally a manifestation of tec'nological inno&ation or
t'e process t'roug' w'ic' man;s capabilities are enlarged $ec'nological inno&ation
originates in researc' and de&elopment by business and t'e go&ernment< and it results not
only in new mac'inery or products but also in new processes< met'ods and e&en
approac'es to management t'at brings about c'ange in t'e en&ironment2
!> E;;(&#" 0; #(&5/0204*&%2 *//0+%#*0/ )60/ ZIMSTAT
$'e most outstanding c'aracteristic of tec'nological inno&ation ZIS$A$ is t'at it
constantly accelerates t'e rate of c'ange2 $ec'nological inno&ation at ZIS$A$ 'as led
to 'ig'er producti&ity of statistical series2 During t'e past few years< ZIS$A$ used to
produce official statistics using manual met'ods using calculators and typewriters2
(owe&er t'is was not &ery efficient< but t'an/s to tec'nological inno&ation< t'e
organi>ation can now use efficient tec'nology< in t'e form of computers< printer etc< in
t'e production and dissemination of national statistics2
ZIMBABWE

oreo&er< ad&ancement in tec'nology led to t'e creation of complexity t'at is complex
products can now be produced using complex production processes< w'ic' ma/e new
demands on t'e management of ZIS$A$2 +it' better tec'nology ZIS$A$ can now
present t'eir products in a better way2 +it' t'e aid of 'ea&y duty printers< mass
production of leaflets for publication is now possible2
$'e website of ZIS$A$ as part of tec'nological inno&ation 'as many ad&antages2 +e
find t'at using t'e website< ZIS$A$ can easily obtain t'e &iews and comments from t'e
public and t'e ot'er go&ernment departments from t'e emails send to t'e organisation &ia
t'e website2 $'ese commends 'elps t'e management to impro&e t'eir products or
production processes2
In most cases tec'nological inno&ation means more pressure upon t'e management and
t'e go&ernment to facilitate t'e adoption of t'e new tec'nology< w'ic' mig't end up
straining t'e resources of t'e organi>ation and t'e go&ernment2 (owe&er in a country li/e
Zimbabwe wit' limited capital< management may 'a&e to gi&e constant attention to t'e
use of labour intensi&e tec'nology not only to easy t'e pressure on t'e demands for
capital but to pro&ide more employment too2
$ec'nological progress t'erefore affects t'e business as a w'ole< including its products<
its life cycle< its supply of materials< its production process and e&en its approac'es to
management2
E;;(&#" 0; #5( (&0/0,*& (/+*$0/,(/# )60/ ZIMSTAT8
$'e economy is influenced by tec'nology< politics< social and t'e international
en&ironment w'ile itself asserting some influences on t'ese &ariables2 $'e most
important interfaces between t'e economic en&ironment and t'e business concern t'e
economic growt' rate< consumer incomes< inflation< monetary and fiscal policy< and t'e
fluctuations in t'ese &ariables2
ZIMBABWE

$'e operations of ZIS$A$ are to a lesser extent affected by c'anges in t'e economic
en&ironment2 -f t'e &ariables of t'e economic en&ironment we find t'at it is inflation
w'ic' 'as a significant impact on t'e operations of ZIS$A$2

Firstly we find t'at wit' a 'yperBinflationary en&ironment< budgeting for t'e organi>ation
is difficult2 Prices for different items are rising on daily basis2 As matter of fact t'e
organi>ation would 'a&e to constantly ma/e supplementary budgets due to inflation2 +e
also find t'at due to inflation big sur&eys suc' as t'e Population Census and t'e Income<
Consumption and %xpenditure Sur&ey would be difficult to conduct2 +e find t'e money
w'ic' would 'a&e been allocated for t'e sur&eys to be conducted in a period of twel&e
mont's end up being sufficient to cater for t'ree mont's< meaning t'at t'e bot'
ZIS$A$ and t'e inistry of Finance would constantly 'a&e to ma/e supplementary
budgets 2
oreo&er< inflation causes a situation of apparent profit< w'ile t'e organisation;s capital
is being eroded all t'e time2 It ma/es cost accounting and t'e financing of credit difficult2
(owe&er< to a larger extent t'e operations of ZIS$A$ are not affected by most
&ariables of t'e economic en&ironment since it is a non profit ma/ing organi>ation
producing a public utility2 Since t'e organi>ation is non profit ma/ing< an upswing or
downswing of t'e economy of Zimbabwe will not 'a&e a significant impact on t'e
operations of ZIS$A$2
$'e management of ZIS$A$ would not 'a&e any trouble trying to profit by reducing its
in&entory in good time to /eep t'e business in a state of liCuidity< t'erefore a&oiding t'e
'ig' costs of interest< w'en expecting a recession2
%&en if t'e economy of Zimbabwe were to experience an upswing< t'e management of
ZIS$A$ was not going to bot'er itself trying to find t'e rig't strategy t'at would profit
t'e business since due to t'e nature of t'e products2
ZIMBABWE

oreo&er< an increase or decrease in t'e incomes of t'e consumer would not lead to t'e
expansion or contraction in t'e demand of t'e organisation;s products< since it would be
senseless for one to increase t'e number of CPI copies t'at 'e8s'e would use because 'is8
'er income 'as increased2 $'is 'owe&er is a different situation wit' ot'er consumer
goods2
T5( (;;(&#" 0; #5( (&0/0,*& (/+*$0/,(/# 0/ #5( ,%$.(# "($+(3 !- ZIMSTAT
$'e c'ange in t'e economic &ariables does not 'a&e a significant impact upon t'e mar/et
ser&ed by ZIS$A$2 $'e mar/et does not s'rin/ or expand following fluctuations in t'e
economic &ariables suc' as inflation< consumer incomes< and economic growt'2 $'e
mar/et;s demand also does not rise or fall in response to t'e fluctuations in t'e ma@or
economic &ariables
An upswing or downswing of t'e economy does not 'a&e a great impact on t'e
mar/et8clients; demand of statistics2 In t'e case of ot'er goods< ta/ing for instance a
normal good< we expect people to increase demand or t'e Cuantity purc'ased of a good
during t'e time of an economic boom< and &ise &ersa2 (owe&er wit' statistics< it;s a
different case2 -ne can not expect people to increase t'eir purc'ase of statistics or ot'er
products from ZIS$A$ during an upswing of t'e economy< and alternati&ely one can
not expect people to reduce t'eir purc'ase of statistics during t'e time of an economic
recession2
oreo&er< t'e fluctuation in t'e incomes of t'e consumers does not 'a&e a significant
effect upon t'e mar/et ser&ed by ZIS$A$ and t'eir demand of t'e statistical series2
!nder normal circumstances we expect t'e demand and purc'ase of a product to increase
wit' t'e rise in incomes of t'e consumers since t'ey would now be able to buy more2 +e
find t'at t'e mar/et ser&ed by ZIS$A$ does not expand or s'rin/ in response to t'e rise
or fall in t'e consumer incomes2
ZIMBABWE

$'e rise in t'e rate of inflation also does not cause t'e mar/et ser&ed by ZIS$A$ to
s'rin/ alt'oug' inflation reduces t'e purc'asing power of t'e consumers2 $'e mar/et
ser&ed by ZIS$A$ remains relati&ely t'e same despite t'e 'ig' inflation rate in
Zimbabwe2
E;;(&#" 0; #5( "0&*%2 (/+*$0/,(/# )60/ ZIMSTAT8
$'e c'ange in t'e social en&ironment affects t'e management of ZIS$A$ indirectly
t'roug' man as a consumer and an employee t'at its ultimate effect on t'e business can
not be underestimated2
A social trend t'at would greatly affect management and t'e operations of ZIS$A$ is
t'e le&el of education of t'e population2 -n one 'and it will influence t'e le&el of s/ills
in bot' managers and wor/ersF w'ile on t'e ot'er 'and< 'ig'er education will result in
new demands for Cuality statistical series and ad&isory ser&ices2
Better education and training will mean a more sop'isticated consumer wit' definite
demands on management regarding t'e Cuality of goods< ad&ertisements and wor/ing
conditions2
988 T5( #-6(" 0; #(&5/0204- )"(3 %# ZIMSTAT8
,ocal Area "etwor/
+ebsite
Personal computers
Software pac/ages
Scanner
Printers
$elep'ones
Punc'ers
Staplers
ZIMBABWE

Firstly< t'e Zimbabwe "ational Statistics Agency 'as a ,ocal Area "etwor/ 3,A"4
w'ic' lin/s Personal Computers wit'in t'e organisation2 $'e ,ocal Area "etwor/ is
controlled wit' two ser&ers running on windows ser&er 0??5 operating networ/ system2
$'e +ebsite ser&er is w'ere t'e ZIS$A$ website is sitting on and t'e ser&er is running
in ,inux2 ,A" enables easy communication across sections and departments2
Documents< articles and music can be easily sent using t'e ,A"2
Secondly ZIS$A$ 'as a website www2>imstat2ac2>w and an eBmail w'ic' facilitates
communication wit'in t'e organisation and wit' people outside t'e organisation2 $'e
clients are able to access some information about ZIS$A$ on t'e website< and &iew<
comments and Cueries can be forwarded to t'e director &ia t'e eB mail2 $'e website and
email ser&er is running on ,inux red 'at2
ZIS$A$ also 'as personal computers in all t'e sections2 $'ese computers are connected
to t'e ,ocal Area "etwor/ and run on an operating system called +indows LP
Professional and icrosoft -ffice suc' as word< excel< power point and publis'er2
ZIS$A$ also uses &arious software pac/ages for data entry and data processing2 $'e
pac/age differs and &aries across sections2 $a/ing for example ZIS$A$ uses t'e Census
and Sur&ey Processing system 3CSPro4 for data entry< editing< tabulation and
dissemination of data from census and sur&eys2 CSPro combines features of integrated
micro computer processing system 3IPS4 and t'e Integrated System for Sur&ey
Analysis 3ISSA42

$'ere is also t'e Statistical Analysis System 3SAS4 w'ic' is used for t'e production of
tables and c'ec/ing of errors< in w'ic' case t'e final tables are produced in excel format<
for report writing2
$'e organi>ation also 'as printers in all t'e sections and departments< as part of t'e
tec'nology used in its production process2 %ac' section prints Cuestionnaires for different
sur&eys< and also t'e leaflets< and boo/s of indices for publication2 $a/ing for example< in
ZIMBABWE

t'e Prices Statistics Section< Cuestionnaires for Consumer price sur&ey 3CPS4< Ci&il
%ngineering Price Index 3C%PI4< Building aterials Price Index 3BPI4 and
International Comparison Programme 3ICP4< among ot'ers are printed2 After data
processing< t'e section t'en prints t'e leaflets wit' indices suc' as t'e CPI and t'e PD,2
$'e organi>ation also uses t'e fax mac'ine< to send documents to ot'er organi>ations and
also to recei&e documents from ot'er organi>ations2 It is also used to send documents to
ZIS$A$;s pro&incial offices< and &ice &ersa2 $'e ad&antage is t'at it wor/s fast in
sending documents to t'e desired destinations2
$'e organi>ation also uses telep'ones in its operations2 ZIS$A$ 'as telep'ones in
e&ery office to facilitate easy and Cuic/ communication across sections and departments2
Instead of one going to t'e next office to inCuire about somet'ing< one can sa&e scarce
time by simply pic/ing up t'e recei&er< and dialing t'e rele&ant number2 -ne can also
delegate wor/ or gi&e directions as to 'ow a tas/ can be executed using t'e telep'one<
instead of 'im8'er wal/ing to t'at office2 Since ZIS$A$ 'as pro&incial offices in t'e ten
pro&inces of Zimbabwe< telep'ones ma/e communication wit' t'em easier2
Furt'ermore< ZIS$A$ uses staplers to @oin s'eets of papers< suc' as CPI< and PD,
leaflets toget'er2 It also uses punc'ers in t'e production process< especially w'en one
wants to file Cuestionnaires in a file2
ZIMBABWE

CHAPTER 3
387 O$4%/*:%#*0/%2 S#$)&#)$(
T5( 4(/($%2 "#$)&#)$(
-ne of t'e ways in w'ic' you can explain t'e structure of an organi>ation is t'roug' an
organi>ation c'art2 $'is c'art usually s'ows t'e title of eac' manager;s position and
using connecting lines s'ows w'o is accountable to w'om and w'o 'as responsibility for
w'ic' departmentG it 'elps one t'in/ of t'e organi>ation as a w'ole and understands 'ow
all its parts fits toget'er2
ZIS$A$ is 'eaded by t'e director and t'ere are basically four le&els in t'e operational
structure of t'e organi>ation2 $'e first le&el consists of t'e director< two deputy directors
< four assistant directors and t'e senior executi&e officer w'ic' is a supporting section<
t'e second le&el consists of t'e statisticians and t'e programmers< t'e t'ird le&el consists
of t'e statistical officers and t'e last le&el consists of t'e statistical cler/s2 $'e o&erall
structure is illustrated on next page Appendix A2
ZIMBABWE

A66(/3*' A : OVERALL STRUCTURE
ZIMBABWE

389 A3,*/*"#$%#*0/ %/3 F*/%/&( %/3 H),%/ R("0)$&("
E&0/0,*& S#%#*"#*&"
M$8 K8R8N8 S50/5*1%
=D(6)#- D*$(&#0$4
Population and Social Statistics
r2 C2 Parirenyatwa
3Deputy Director4
I/&0,( A/%2-"*"
M$8 N8 T%$)+*/4%
=A""*"#%/# D*$(&#0$>
Production Statistics
r2 .2 pofu
3Assistant Director4
Industrial Statistics
3Statisticians4
3Cler/s4
F*/%/&(
=S#%#*"#*&*%/">
=C2($.">
N%#*0/%2 A&&0)/#"
=S#%#*"#*&*%/">
P$*&("
=S#%#*"#*&*%/">
=C2($.">
(ouse'old sur&eys
)acant
3Assistant4 4
Director4
Administration
(uman .esources
.egistry and Finance
Pri&ate Secretary
Demograp'y and social
Statistics
s ungate
s2 ungate
3Assistant D(6)#-
Director4 Cartograp'y
3Statisticians4
3Cler/s4
%n&ironment (ealt'
3Statisticians4
3Cler/s4
Social stats
Census
3Statisticians4
3Cler/s4
Agricultural
Statistics
3Statisticians4
3Cler/s4
Foreign $rade
3Statisticians4
3Cler/s4
apping
3Statisticians4
3Cler/s4
#ender
3Statisticians4
3Cler/s4
%mployment
3Statisticians4
3Cler/s4
*udicial
3Statisticians4
3Cler/s4
Social indicators
3Statisticians4
3Cler/s4
I$
3Statisticians4
3Cler/s4
Census
3Statisticians4
3Cler/s
DIRECTOR OF CENSUS AND STATICS
MR8 M8 NYONI =A&#*/4 D*$(&#0$>
ZIMBABWE

$'e Administration and Finance section is a ser&ice section of t'e department2 $'e
section consisted of two units< one dealing wit' Administration and t'e ot'er wit'
Finance2 $'e branc' is responsible for financial management < 'uman resource and
management of day to day running suc' as pro&iding office orderlies for t'e w'ole
department < it is a supporting branc' w'ic' ma/e sure t'at all t'e resource are a&ailable
for efficient in t'e producing a 'ig' Cuality statistical ser&ice and all t'e di&isions are
supported by centrali>ed ser&ice of administration< finance< computing< des/top
publis'ing <printing and training 2$'e department is furt'er split into accounts w'ic' is
t'e section w'ere I was attac'ed< 'uman resources < administration < registry < library
<office orderlies < secretary and dri&ers 2
38987 F*/%/&(<A&&0)/#" S(&#*0/
$'e unit pro&ides financial management of t'e w'ole department t'roug' t'e
consolidation of ot'er section budget into a department budget and consolidate its to meet
wit' t'e ministry of finance budget2 $'e funds of ZIS$A$ come mostly from t'e
go&ernment t'oug' a little can be raised t'roug' selling of publications 3publis'ed
statistics boo/s42 -t'er organisations suc' as !"IC%F and $'e African Capacity
Building Foundation and many ot'er organisation w'ic' may want to support during
running of ot'er pro@ect may also donate2 Computation of Budgets
$'e accounts unit ensures timeous payment of all &ouc'ers< prepares estimates of
expenditure< prepares financial yearBend returns and ensures t'at staff is trained2
Keeping and reconciling of t'e temporary deposit register < processing of tra&elling and
subsistence claim forms <processing of ad&ance reCuest &ouc'ers 3local and foreign4
<updating of tra&elling and subsistence ledger cards and t'e ad&ances bloc/ grant
register <c'ec/ing and certifying all payment &ouc'ers and maintenance of all
commitment register Gcommitting of all expenditure &ouc'ers and reconciling at t'e end
of eac' mont' are some of t'e day to day acti&ities t'at are underta/en in t'e accounts
section2 ost of t'e payments in&ol&e cas' and ban/ transfers and eac' payment is
ZIMBABWE

allocated to its cost8fund centre in an appropriate general ledger account and t'en
deducted from t'e budget w'ic' is t'e fund w'ic' is allocated to us by t'e ministry of
finance t'roug' t'e $reasury sometimes t'e subscription amount may bro/en down to
different general ledgers2
F)/&#*0/"
$'e main functions of t'is unit areGB
P$0&(""*/4 0; 6%-,(/# ;0$ 4003" %/3 "($+*&(" $(&(*+(3
$'e unit ensures t'at goods and ser&ices supplied to t'e department are paid for in time2
$'is in&ol&es c'ec/ing t'at funds are a&ailable before goods and ser&ices are ordered2
+'en t'e goods and ser&ices are deli&ered t'e unit ensures t'at t'e correct prices are
in&oiced2
P$0&(""*/4 0; %3+%/&( $(B)("# %/3 &2%*, ;0$," ;0$ #$%+(22*/4 %/3 ")!"*"#(/&(
%2201%/&("
$'e unit processes applications for ad&ance payment of tra&elling and subsistence
allowances w'en duties reCuire staff members to wor/ away from t'e 'ome station2 A
minimum of t'ree wor/ing days and a maximum of fourteen wor/ing days are reCuired to
process an application for ad&ance payment of tra&elling and subsistence allowances2
+'en t'e staff member is bac/ from 'is duties< 'e completes a tra&elling and subsistence
claim form to account for t'e cas' ad&anced2 If t'e expenses incurred are not eCual to t'e
amount ad&anced< t'en eit'er t'e indi&idual is reimbursed or as/ed to pay t'e difference2
P$(6%$%#*0/ 0; ("#*,%#(" 0; ('6(/3*#)$(
$'e Finance unit reCuires sections to submit estimates of expenditure for t'e coming
fiscal year2 Sections submit pro@ects and programmes w'ic' fall under recurrent
expenditure and are li/ely to be implemented in t'e coming fiscal year2 $'e recurrent
programmes also indicate t'e estimated cost2 Some of t'e programmes are subsistence
and transport< incidental expenses and furniture and eCuipment2 $'e purc'ase of
mac'inery is done under t'e Public Sector In&estment Programme 3PSIP42 After all
ZIMBABWE

submissions 'a&e been recei&ed< t'e Finance unit consolidates t'e &arious estimates for
submission to $reasury2
S%2( %/3 D*"#$*!)#*0/ 0; P)!2*&%#*0/"
$'e Finance unit sells and distributes &arious statistical publications produced by t'e
Department2 Some of t'em are Consumer Price Index< ,abour and %mployment
Statistics< Po&erty Datum ,ines and etc
B%/.*/4
.e&enue realised from t'e sale of publications is ban/ed wit' Central Ban/ of
Zimbabwe2 $reasury instructions forbid t'e retaining of money in t'e office for more t'an
twentyBfour 'ours2 oney w'ic' cannot be disposed of wit'in twentyBfour 'ours is
deposited in t'e temporary deposit account2 A payment &ouc'er is prepared to draw
money from t'e temporary deposit account w'en reCuired2 Internal c'ec/s and controls
ensure t'at t'e officer w'o receipts is not t'e one w'o prepares ban/ing and t'e one w'o
prepares ban/ing is not t'e one w'o goes to t'e ban/2 A ban/ing register is maintained to
ensure t'at funds are safeguarded2
38989 H),%/ R("0)$&("
$'e main duties of t'is section are recruitment< selection and promotion2 $'e section is
also important as it also loo/s on t'e Public Ser&ice Commission regulations and conduct
performance appraisals for staff w'ic' is done after a long period of time2 $'e 'uman
resource section also carries re&iew of staffing le&el for t'e second p'ase of t'e
rationalisation of ci&il ser&ice2
Staff turnBo&er 'as been relati&ely 'ig' o&er t'e years w'ic' in turn place some
constraints onG
B (uman resources training and de&elopment
B Building and retaining t'e rig't s/ills
ZIMBABWE

B Ser&ice deli&ery in respect of t'e number of personnel a&ailable at any
time to 'andle situations2
38983 A3,*/*"#$%#*0/ S(&#*0/
$'e section wor/ in 'and wit' most of t'e sections2 Its main duties are purc'asing of
stationery< groceries and ot'er items w'ic' are needed by t'e department< stoc/ le&els<
distribution of material to t'e registry8switc' board <library < secretary8typists and office
orderlies 2Asset management is also mandate of t'e administration section it /eeps t'e
/eys to t'e offices < including spares < computers and printers repairs< cabinet aut'orities<
tic/ets <transport reCuest and maintenance2
ZIMBABWE

CHAPTER 4
48C T5( W0$. $02("A #%"." %/3 $("60/"*!*2*#*("
+'en $'e writer @oined ZIS$A$< w'at s'e /new was t'at t'e organi>ation conducts
censuses< and also t'at it is a state owned department t'at computes and releases t'e year
on year and mont'ly inflation rates2 (ere are some of t'e expectations and 'ow t'ey were
met during t'e mont's of 'er attac'ment2
(er prior expectations on starting 'er industrial attac'ment8wor/ related learning were to
/now 'er duties8responsibilities8tas/s at t'e institution especially in t'e Accounts section
in w'ic' s'e was placed for 'er wor/ related learning2
S'e expected also to familiari>e 'erself wit' applications of accounting principles in t'e
organi>ation8company 'ence being able to apply t'e t'eory learnt at college into practise
and acCuiring basic practises in de&eloping 'er wor/ related learning studies2 S'e was
also expecting to participate in some of t'e pro@ects and to /now 'ow t'e Zimbabwe
"ational Statistics Agency conducts t'e censuses2
$'e ot'er t'ing s'e expected was to attend wor/ related learning wor/s'ops to boost 'er
wor/ experience t'erefore desiring to /now 'ow to communicate wit'in and outside t'e
organisation2
D)#*("< R("60/"*!*2*#*("< T%"."
R(&(*6#*/4 Jsale of publications
$'e student receipted moneys from sale of publications and cas' donations
recei&ed on official receipts purc'ased from t'e department of printing and
stationery2 .eceipts were made in triplicate< duly signed and date stamped2 S'e
also maintained publications stoc/ records
V0)&5*/4 J payment of creditors
ZIMBABWE

BA payment &ouc'er s'ows t'e payee< amount and details of payment2 S'e compiled
payment &ouc'ers and t'en pass t'em to t'e one w'o certifies t'em correct w'o in turn
pass it to t'e accountant w'o passes it for payment2 $'us t'ree aut'orised signatories are
reCuired for a payment to be made2 +'en payments 'a&e been made< s'e t'en filed t'e
payment &ouc'ers and mont'ly reports2 $'e &ouc'ers are filed as per general ledger
account2
L*B)*3%#*/4 A3+%/&(" 0; "#%;; 0/ #$%+(2 %2201%/&(" !0#5 */#($/%2 %/3
('#($/%2 #$*6"8
D$'e student also processed applications for ad&ance payment of tra&elling and
subsistence allowances w'en duties reCuire staff members to wor/ away from t'e 'ome
station2 +'en t'e staff member is bac/ from 'is duties< 'e completes a tra&elling and
subsistence claim form to account for t'e cas' ad&anced2 If t'e expenses incurred are not
eCual to t'e amount ad&anced< t'en eit'er t'e indi&idual is reimbursed or as/ed to pay t'e
difference2
P$(6%$*/4 0; &%"5!00."A !%/. $(&0/&*2*%#*0/
C%"5!00.D$'e student made entries in t'e cas'boo/ on a daily basis by t'e cler/
and update at t'e end of eac' mont' and reconciled against t'e ban/ statement2
Ban/ reconciliations are done mont'ly2 +'en reconciling< s'e ensured t'at all
receipts 'a&e been entered in t'e cas'boo/ correctly2 S'e tic/ed off all deposits
entered in t'e cas'boo/ against deposits reflected on t'e ban/ statement2 After t'at<
s'e too/ note of all direct deposits s'own on t'e ban/ statement but not recorded in
t'e cas'boo/ and issue separate receipts for eac' one of t'em2 S'e t'en recorded all
direct payments or transfers s'own on t'e ban/ statement but not recorded in t'e
cas'boo/ including interest or ban/ c'arges made by t'e ban/2 S'e also recorded
deposits in t'e cas'boo/ but reflected on t'e ban/ statement as a ban/
reconciliation item under deposits in transit2 S'e recorded c'eCues s'own in t'e
cas'boo/ but not s'own on t'e ban/ statement as a ban/ reconciliation item under
unpresented c'eCues2 +it' t'e abo&e action 'a&ing been completed< s'e t'en
prepared t'e ban/ reconciliation statement2
ZIMBABWE

D%#% &%6#)$*/4
B$'e student compiled t'e daily expenditure report for &arious fund accounts t'at
are Statistical De&elopment Fund< Census< ZIS$A$< Central Statistical Capacity
Building Fund and captured data on programmes suc' as Census of Industrial
Production Sur&ey 3CIP4
P$(6%$*/4 %//)%2 $(#)$/"
B%&ery year< ZIS$A$ recei&e a budgetary allocation from t'e inistry of Finance2
At t'e end of eac' year< t'e income and expenditure report is prepared s'owing
amounts recei&ed and t'e expenditure incurred2 $'e surplus is t'en returned to t'e
inistry2 $'e student also prepared annual returns in respect of t'e year 0??A for
t'e Statistical De&elopment Fund Account funds2
A##(/3*/4 D(6%$#,(/#%2 M((#*/4"
BDuring my wor/ related learning experience< s'e attended &arious departmental
meetings w'ere s'e learnt a lot including t'e importance of participating2
P$(6%$*/4 ;*/%2 %&&0)/#"
DS'e prepared some financial statements namely income and expenditure report<
statement of cas'flows and statement of financial position2
C5%22(/4("
Fear t'at s'e would not deli&er as expected on t'e first mont' of 'er attac'ment
Different formats of accounting
.egular clients were 'esitating to be sa&ed by a student2
#aining t'e trust of 'er super&isor on receipting cas' from publications
ZIMBABWE

R(&0,,(/3%#*0/"
T*,( ,%/%4(,(/# is &ery &ital in order to fit well in an organi>ation2 $'is
eliminated t'e fear of not being able to deli&er as expected< because some wor/
was supposed to be done wit'in time frame and s'e was able to deli&er because of
time management2
G003 &0,,)/*&%#*0/ ".*22"2 $'e student de&eloped essential communication
s/ills t'roug' words< actions< body language and &oice tone2 $'is 'elped me to
gain t'e trust of my super&isor on 'andling cas' receipted2 S'e also managed to
respond well w'en attending to clients bot' face to face and o&er t'e p'one2 $'is
made regular client respond to my ser&ice &ery well2
O/ A&&0)/#*/4 F0$,%#"2 $'e formats were different but t'e principles were t'e
same2 It is in go&ernment so t'ere are go&ernment accounts and commercial
accounts but wit' t'e 'elp of 'er super&isor s'emanaged to understand t'e
formats Cuic/ly2
ZIMBABWE

CHAPTER 5
587 T5( 0$4%/*"%#*0/@" "#$(/4#5"
S.*22(3<C0,,*##(3 "#%;;
$'e mandate of ZIS$A$ is to produce official statistics and t'is reCuires a 'ig'ly
s/illed tas/ force< w'ic' is well &ested in mat'ematical< economical and econometrical
concepts2 At ZIS$A$ t'e statistical cler/s and t'e statisticians 'a&e Diplomas and
degrees in &arious disciplines suc' as economics< statistics and mat'ematics ZIS$A$
produces world class official statistics wit' t'e aid of its s/illed and committed staff2
E"#%!2*"5(3 D%#% C022(&#*0/ I/;$%"#$)&#)$(
ZIS$A$ can boast about an establis'ed data collection infrastructure2 $'is is so
because it 'as a master sample for t'e w'ole country of Zimbabwe2 $'e w'ole country
'as been di&ided into &arious enumeration areas w'ic' ma/e it easier for data to be
collected2 $'e 'ouse'olds section 'as t'e maps< list of all structures and 'ouse'olds in
Zimbabwe2 $'e maps< t'e list of 'ouse'olds and t'e list of names entails t'at ZIS$A$
'as an establis'ed data collection infrastructure2
I/D"($+*&( #$%*/*/4
ZIS$A$ 'as t'e strengt' of an inB'ouse training facility w'ic' offers certificates in
disciplines suc' as statistics< mat'ematics< economics and computing science2 $'e
$raining section also trains staff in met'ods of data collection< &alidation< storage
retrie&al< display and analysis2 ZIS$A$ trains its wor/ers as well as people from ot'er
go&ernment departments to impro&e t'eir wor/ performance2 $'e inB'ouse training is
also being successful in moti&ating staff to greater efficiency by creating an interest in
t'eir wor/ and t'e sub@ect matter of statistics< mat'ematics< economics and computing2
ZIMBABWE

C0,62*%/&( #0 */#($/%#*0/%2 "#%/3%$3"
$'e &ision of ZIS$A$ is to be t'e leading world class producer of national statistics<
so as a result ZIS$A$ ad'eres to international standards in t'e pro&ision of official
statistics2 ZIS$A$;s compliance to international standards are s'own in t'e met'ods
and formulas t'at it uses in calculating t'e indices suc' as t'e Consumer Price Index
and t'e Po&erty Datum ,ines w'ic' are t'e ones recommended by t'e International
Community and t'e !nited "ations2 ZIS$A$ sometimes in&ites professional
consultation persons from ot'er leading countries in t'e pro&ision of official statistics<
to train and upgrade t'e programmes used in t'e computation of statistics and also to
upgrade t'e s/ills of t'e staff< and t'us compliance to international standards2
E"#%!2*"5(3 "%,62( ;$%,( %/3 !)"*/("" $(4*"#($"
In its mandate to produce official statistics &ital for policy formulation< we find t'at
ZIS$A$ 'as an establis'ed sample frame< w'ic' is a list of all 'ouse'olds<
enterprises< farms and 'ospitals in t'e country2 ZIS$A$ also 'as establis'ed business
registers2 $'e organisation 'as a list of all registered companies and t'eir addresses<
bot' p'ysical and postal addresses2 $'is enables to carry out sur&eys easily since all
t'ose companies and institutions w'ic' would 'a&e been selected as part of t'e sample
would be reac'ed easily for data collection2
W*3($ $%/4( 0; "#%#*"#*&%2 */;0$,%#*0/
ZIS$A$ boasts of a compre'ensi&e data base2 Statistical information dating bac/ to
as early as 1=A7 w'en t'e first censuses were conducted is a&ailable at ZIS$A$2 +e
can also find t'at ZIS$A$ 'as a wide range of statistical information in t'at it
produces information suc' as 'ealt' statistics< prison and crime statistics< employment
statistics< census statistics< prices statistics< ban/ing statistics< income statistics< among
many ot'ers2
ZIMBABWE

589 T5( 0$4%/*"%#*0/@" 1(%./(""("
N0 &0/#$02 0$ 3(&*"*0/ ,%.*/4 0/ &0/3*#*0/" 0; "($+*&(
ZIS$A$ as a go&ernment department< currently operating under t'e inistry of
Finance< 'as no control or decision ma/ing on t'e conditions of ser&ice2 $'e
organisation 'as no control on t'e wages and salaries of its employees2 $'e
organisation cannot increase salaries or gi&e cars to its wor/ers as moti&ation to its
wor/ers or a way of curbing 'ig' staff turno&er2 $a/ing for instance< in some
organisations w'en a /ey wor/er w'o is &ery important to t'e organisation in terms of
'is8'er s/ills< is attracted and bound to lea&e for anot'er organisation t'at offers of 'ig'
salary and a car< t'e organisation can increase t'e salary of t'e /ey wor/er and again
gi&e 'im8'er t'e car as a way of protecting 'im8'er from lea&ing t'e organisation2 $'e
Public Ser&ice Commission and t'e Central go&ernment decide on t'e conditions of
ser&ice of ZIS$A$;s wor/ers toget'er wit' ot'er go&ernment wor/ers2
M%$.(#*/4 "#$%#(4-=(848 6$03)&# 6$("(/#%#*0/>
ZIS$A$ faces c'allenge on t'e presentation of its products2 !nli/e ot'er
organi>ations< ZIS$A$ does not carry out any promotional acti&ities for its official
statistics2 ZIS$A$ ad&ertises itself @ust before and during t'e times of population
censuses w'ic' ta/es place once in e&ery ten years to notify t'e public2 As a matter of
fact t'e organisation lac/s a &igorous mar/eting strategy for its products2

I/#($/%2 &0,,)/*&%#*0/
At ZIS$A$ t'ere is &ertical communication< w'ic' is communication between t'e
management and t'e @unior staff2
L%&. 0; &0/#$02 0+($ ;*/%/&*%2 $("0)$&("
ZIS$A$ as a go&ernment department lac/s control o&er financial resources w'ic' it
uses in t'e day to day running of its operations2 Since t'e organisation is a go&ernment
ZIMBABWE

department< financial resources for its operations are allocated in t'e national budget by
t'e minister of finance2 $'e funds are t'en released from t'e treasury to ZIS$A$
t'roug' t'e rele&ant ministry 'ousing ZIS$A$ at t'at particular time2 As a result< t'e
management of ZIS$A$ can not always carry out some acti&ities w'ic' needs
financial resources< alt'oug' t'e acti&ities may be beneficial to t'e country< since at
times funding of acti&ities depend on t'e prioriti>ation of t'e go&ernment2

T(&5/0204*&%2 )63%#("
As a non profit ma/ing organisation< mainly in t'e pro&ision of a public good< it is not
&ery easy for ZIS$A$ to update its tec'nology2 Alt'oug' t'e go&ernment and t'e
"#-;s 'a&e facilitated and made it possible for ZIS$A$ to 'a&e better models of
computers< printers and some ot'er mac'ines in almost e&ery department for use in its
operations< ZIS$A$ lags be'ind ot'er countries in terms of tec'nology2 ZIS$A$
does not 'a&e scanners to use in t'e capturing of data on Cuestionnaires< w'ic' ma/es it
faster for data to be captured2 $'e fax mac'ine alt'oug' it is a&ailable< it is not easily
a&ailable to e&eryone Cuic/ly2
L(4*"2%#*0/ (/;0$&(,(/#
$'e legislation t'at go&erns t'e operations of ZIS$A$ is poorly enforced in t'at it is
not effecti&e enoug' to force e&eryone to gi&e information or data during t'e sur&eys2
$'is gi&es problems during data collection< leading to low response rate< omission of
some &ital information in data processing< users doubting t'e Cuality of data and
publications being produced late2

T*,(2*/("" 0; "0,( "#%#*"#*&%2 "($*("
At ZIS$A$ some publications are being produced late due to &arious reasons2
ZIS$A$ sometimes experience t'e problem of timeliness of some statistical series
due to lac/ of demand for data leading to fewer resources made a&ailable for t'eir
production or Cuality control2 -n t'e ot'er 'and timeliness of some statistical series is
due to poor moti&ation of t'e wor/force and la>iness2
ZIMBABWE

D*"%"#($ $(&0+($- 62%/
$'e organisation 'as a wea/ness in relation to t'e disaster reco&ery plan2 $'e
organi>ation does not update its storage of data more often2 In t'e e&ent t'at t'ere is a
fire outbrea/ or some ot'er form of disaster at ZIS$A$ some of t'e data will be lost2
ZIMBABWE

CHAPTER 6
687 T5( 0$4%/*"%#*0/@" 0660$#)/*#*("
An opportunity may be defined as a fa&orable condition or tendency in t'e mar/et
en&ironment of an organisation w'ic' can be fa&orably exploited by means of a
deliberate management effort2 Below are some of t'e opportunities t'at 'a&e been
a&ailable to ZIS$A$< and t'e means t'at t'e organisation a 'a&e used to exploit t'e
opportunities2
C0/")2#%/&-
ZIS$A$ 'as an opportunity of consultancy2 Its staff members are 'ig'ly s/illed and
experienced in t'e field of mat'ematics and statistics to t'e extent t'at t'ey can act as
consultancy in t'ose fields2 $'e organisation greatly utili>es t'is opportunity by
offering t'is ser&ice to ot'er go&ernment< departments< companies indi&iduals and t'e
"#-;s2
G0+($/,(/# 3(&*"*0/ 0/ "(,*D%)#0/0,0)" "#%#)"<$(+*"(3 2(4*"2%#*0/
$'e organisation is also utili>ing t'e opportunity of go&ernment decision on semiB
autonomous status or re&ised legislation of ZIS$A$2
T$%*/*/4 "($+*&("
ZIS$A$ 'as training ser&ices at its disposal2 $'e main sub@ects offered are statistics<
mat'ematics< economics and computing science2 $'e staff members are trained in
met'ods of data collection< &alidation< storage retrie&al< display and analysis2 $'e
organisation utili>es t'is opportunity by training staff members upon @oining t'e
organisation< and w'ene&er need arises2
ZIMBABWE

R(")2# !%"(3 602*&-
$'is is a policy t'at 'as been newly introduced by t'e go&ernment on appraisals2
+or/ers are now appraised basing on t'eir results of t'eir tas/s and responsibilities2
$'is is so because a lot of wor/ was being done but wit'out coming up wit' results at
t'e end of t'e day2 As a result< ZIS$A$ as a go&ernment department ta/es and utili>es
t'is opportunity2
I//0+%#*0/ #5$0)45 #(&5/0204*&%2 %3+%/&(,(/#
ZIS$A$ is en@oying t'e opportunity of inno&ation t'roug' tec'nological
ad&ancement2 $ec'nological inno&ation originates in researc' and de&elopment by bot'
ZIS$A$ and t'e go&ernment2 $'is 'owe&er affects t'e business as a w'ole< including
its products< its life cycle< and its supply of raw materials< its production processes and
e&en its approac' to management2 ZIS$A$ is continuously adopting new tec'nology<
and t'is is seen t'roug' t'e tec'nology t'at it 'as and t'e software pac/ages t'at it uses
in data entry and data processing2 ZIS$A$ 'as a ,ocal Area "etwor/< +ebsite< an
email< personal computers< digital printers< 'ea&y duty printers and software pac/ages
suc' as CSPro 52? and t'e (armoni>ed Consumer Price Index2
D0/0$ ;)/3*/4
$'e organisation also 'as t'e opportunity of donor funding2 any "#-;s come to
ZIS$A$ for assistance in carrying out sur&eys< for example on c'ildren and ot'er
&ulnerable groups< or t'ey engage ZIS$A$ to carry out t'e sur&ey since it 'as an
establis'ed data collection infrastructure2 As a result ZIS$A$ benefits in t'e form of
finance< material resources suc' as computers< printers and e&en &e'icles2
P$*/#*/4 "($+*&("
ZIS$A$ 'as t'e opportunity of printing ser&ices at its disposal2 +e find t'at
ZIS$A$ 'as a print floor< w'ic' is a section t'at is t'ere to meet all t'e mass printing
needs of all t'e departments and sections under ZIS$A$2 As a result ZIS$A$ uses
ZIMBABWE

t'is opportunity to print leaflets suc' as t'e CPI and PD, and boo/s wit' reports of
statistics suc' as t'at of crime statistics or income statistics for publication2
689T5( 0$4%/*"%#*0/@" #5$(%#"
A t'reat may be defined as an unfa&ourable condition or tendency in t'e mar/et
en&ironment of t'e organisation t'at can< in t'e absence of a deliberate effort by
management< lead to t'e failure of t'e business< its products or its ser&ices2 Below are
some of t'e t'reats t'at ZIS$A$ 'as encountered and t'e ways t'at t'e organisation 'as
adopted to deal wit' t'e t'reats2
L*,*#(3 !)34(#%$- %220&%#*0/<&0/#$02
Sometimes t'e organisation faces t'e t'reat of a limited budgetary allocation from t'e
inistry of Finance2 $'is means t'e re would not be enoug' money to finance sur&eys2
$o sol&e a situation li/e t'is ZIS$A$ 'ad to as/ for a supplementary budget
allocation from t'e ministry< or t'e organisation 'ad to @ustify itself to t'e go&ernment
in order to get some more money2 (owe&er< at times t'e organisation and t'e
go&ernment would loo/ for t'e users of t'e final product from t'e sur&eys< and t'ese
mostly would sponsor t'e sur&eys2 $a/ing for example "#-;s suc' as t'e +orld Band
3+B4< African De&elopment Ban/ 3ADP4< !nited "ations De&elopment Programme<
'a&e sponsored many sur&eys carried out by ZIS$A$ wit' financial resources and
material resources2

C0,6(#*#*0/
$'e existence of competition is one ot'er t'reat t'at 'as been faced by ZIS$A$2
Alt'oug' ZIS$A$ is t'e leading producer of official< national statistics ad'ering to
international standards< we find t'at it faces competition from ot'er organisations w'ic'
produces statistics2 $a/ing for example< an organi>ation li/e t'e Consumer Council of
Zimbabwe 3CCIZ4 produces Po&erty ,ines on a mont'ly basis li/e ZIS$A$< alt'oug'
ZIMBABWE

t'e consumer bas/ets are different2 CCZI also publis'es its Po&erty ,ines @ust li/e
ZIS$A$2 +e also find t'at t'ere are ot'er ministries t'at produce t'eir statistics< for
example t'e inistry of (ealt' produces (ealt' statistics< w'ile t'e inistry of ining
and International $rade produces statistics on trade2 $'is poses some competition to
ZIS$A$2 As a result< ZIS$A$ o&ercomes t'e competition by impro&ing t'e
corporate image of t'e organisation and presentation of its products2
S#%#*"#*&%2 *22*#($%&-
+e find t'at in Zimbabwe statistical illiteracy rate is &ery 'ig'2 ost people do not
understand statistics and its rele&ance in t'eir li&es2 Sometimes e&en w'en t'e people
get t'e figures t'ey do not /now 'ow to use t'em correctly or 'ow to interpret t'em2 As
a result t'e organisation sometimes t'e department finds itself caug't in a &icious cycle
w'ere national statistics 'as been underBappreciated< under&alued and underin&ested2
$o deal wit' t'e problem ZIS$A$ offers ad&isory and consultancy ser&ices on 'ow to
use t'e statistics correctly to t'e members of t'e public2 $a/ing for instance< people are
taug't 'ow to re&alue8ad@ust t'eir money balances< salaries and assets using t'e CPI2
(owe&er t'ere is need for t'e organi>ation to increase statistical awareness to t'e
public2

HIV<AIDS <"#%;; #)$/0+($
ZIS$A$ li/e many ot'er organisations is experiencing a 'ig' staff turno&er due to t'e
(I)8AIDS pandemic2 any members of staff are dying lea&ing &acant posts< w'ile
some are being absent from wor/ for a long time to ta/e care for t'eir sic/ relati&es at
'ome< posing a t'reat to ZIS$A$2
P)!2*& 6($&(6#*0/
+'at t'e people percei&e about t'e operations of an organisation 'as a great impact on
t'e credibility of t'e organi>ation2 In t'e case of ZIS$A$ t'e public 'as bot' positi&e
and negati&e perceptions2 $'e users sometimes doubt t'e Cuality and credibility of t'e
national statistics produced t'in/ing t'at t'e data is manipulated to suit t'e desires of
t'e politicians and t'e go&ernment since ZIS$A$ is a public department2 Due to
ZIMBABWE

negati&e perceptionsZIS$A$ 'as often found itself caug't in a &icious cycle w'ere
national statistics 'as been underBappreciated< under&alued and underin&ested2 $'e
public perception poses a big t'reat to t'e organisation2
R("60/"( $%#(
$'e department sometimes suffers from low response rate especially in t'ose sur&eys in
w'ic' data is collected using postal met'od2 $a/ing for example t'e Sc'ool Fees and
%ducation Sur&ey< t'ere 'as been a low response rate leading to delays in t'e
computation of indices2
ZIMBABWE

CHAPTER 7
787 ZIMSTAT@" ")&&(""(" %" ,(%")$(3 !- *#" ,*""*0/ %/3 3(&2%$(3 0!?(&#*+("
$'e strategy to ac'ie&e t'e mission is t'roug' t'e carrying out of t'e following functionsG
3i4 Drawing up an o&erall master plan for official statistics and /eep it under
continuous re&iew
3ii4 %stablis'ing statistical met'odologies and standards and ensuring t'eir use by
all producers of official statistics so as among ot'er t'ings to facilitate t'e
integration and comparison of t'e statistics produced bot' nationally and
internationally2
3iii4 CoBordinating statistical acti&ities in t'e country so asG
B $o a&oid duplication of efforts in t'e production of statistics
B $o ensure optimal utili>ation of t'e a&ailable resources
B $o reduce t'e burden< on respondents< of pro&iding statistical data
3i&4 Collecting< compiling< analy>ing and disseminating statistics and related
information2
3&4 aintaining an in&entory of all a&ailable official statistics in t'e country and
assisting users in obtaining international statistics
3&i4 Pro&iding Statistical Ser&ices and professional assistance to official bodies
and t'e public at large
3&ii4 Pro&iding a contact point for international organi>ations and foreign
institutions in need of statistics on Zimbabwe2
ZIMBABWE

$'e successes of ZIS$A$ are seen t'roug' its ability to contribute to national
de&elopment t'roug' t'e production and dissemination of timely and accurate
national statistics t'at facilitate policy formulation2 Data and statistics from ZIS$A$
'a&e always been of prime importance to t'e go&ernment of Zimbabwe for policy
formulation2 $a/ing for instance t'e CPI is of prime importance in t'e calculation of
t'e "ational Budget by t'e inistry of Finance2 $'e go&ernment< t'roug' t'e
.eser&e Ban/ also uses t'e CPI in determining t'e monetary and fiscal policies
ZIS$A$ 'as been successful in contributing to national de&elopment t'roug'
facilitating planning and decision ma/ing2 It is &ital for t'e state and its citi>ens to
/now inflation rate< t'e po&erty datum lines< unemployment rate< 'ealt' statistics<
crime rate and t'e #ross Domestic Product per capita among ot'er indices< all of
w'ic' are products of ZIS$A$2 $'e indices enable sound decisions w'ic' would
lead to national de&elopment2 $a/ing for example< t'e PD, enables t'e state to /now
t'e magnitude of po&erty among its citi>ens allowing it to be in a better position to
implement policies on po&erty alle&iation2
ZIS$A$ 'as also been successful in enabling e&aluation and researc'< t'roug' t'e
sur&eys t'at it carries out2 $'e department 'as been able to facilitate e&aluation and
researc' t'roug' t'e compre'ensi&e data base w'ic' it 'as2 $a/ing for example
ZIS$A$< 'as data on Inflation rate< Po&erty< Crime statistics< #DP and ot'er
"ational Accounts< %mployment and ,abor statistics etc2 All t'ese statistics enables
e&aluation and researc' to be done2
$'e organisation 'as been successful in producing official statistics t'at facilitate
transparency and good go&ernance2
$imeous production of some statistics 3rate of inflation< census42
ZIS$A$ 'as been successful in producing some statistics in time2 $a/ing for example<
ZIS$A$ 'as been able to produce t'e rate of inflation and t'e Po&erty Datum ,ine on
ZIMBABWE

a mont'ly basis as reCuired2 (owe&er< it 'as been affected by financial constraints
under economic c'allenges2
Compliance to international standards2
ZIS$A$ today boasts of complying wit' international standards in t'e production of
official statistics used in policy formulation and decision ma/ing by t'e republic of
Zimbabwe2
InBser&ice training
$'e in ser&ice training t'at is meant to train staff in met'ods of data collection<
&alidation< storage retrie&al< display and analysis 'as been a success2 ZIS$A$;s in
'ouse training 'as also been successful in moti&ating staff to greater efficiency by
creating an interest in t'eir wor/ and t'e sub@ect matter of statistics< mat'ematics<
economics and computing2 $'is in turn contributes to national de&elopment t'roug' t'e
production and dissemination of timely and accurate national statistics t'at facilitate
policy formulation< planning and decision ma/ing2

,egislation 3mandate to produce statistics42
ZIS$A$ 'as been successful in meeting its mission and declared ob@ecti&es< by
carrying out its mandate to produce statistics in terms of t'e Census and Statistics Act
MC'apter 1?2?7N2 $'e Act pro&ides for t'e ta/ing of a census< for t'e collection of
statistics and for t'e publication of statistical informationF and to pro&ide for matters
incidental to t'e foregoing2 By fulfilling its mandate< we can see t'at ZIS$A$ is
indeed contributing to national de&elopment t'roug' t'e production and dissemination
of timely and accurate national statistics t'at facilitate policy formulation< planning and
decision ma/ing2
A compre'ensi&e data base2
ZIS$A$ 'as a compre'ensi&e data base wit' data dating bac/ to 1=A7 w'en t'e first
censuses were conducted2 ZIS$A$ produces prices statistics< income statistics<
ZIMBABWE

finance statistics< agriculture and li&estoc/ statistics< population statistics< labour and
employment statistics< crime statistics< trade statistics among many ot'ers2 $'is wide
range of data contributes to national de&elopment t'roug' t'e production and
dissemination of timely and accurate national statistics t'at facilitate policy
formulation< planning and decision ma/ing2
CHAPTER 8
887 T5( M%$.(#<C2*(/#"@ 6($&(6#*0/" 0; #5( ZIMSTAT %/3 *#" 06($%#*0/"
$'e clients 'a&e bot' positi&e and negati&e perceptions about t'e organi>ation< and t'ese
affects t'e corporate image of t'e organisation and its credibility2 In t'e case of ZIS$A$
t'e clients; perception 'as multiple effects on t'e image of ZIS$A$< &alidity< reliability
and credibility of its products and ser&ices2 I;ll start by explaining some of t'e positi&e
perceptions t'at t'e public 'as on ZIS$A$< and t'en t'e negati&e perceptions t'at t'ey
'a&e on ZIS$A$2
Firstly< t'e clients percei&e t'e organisation as efficient in t'e production of official
national statistics2 $'is is seen in t'e ability of ZIS$A$ to meet t'e needs of t'e
consumers by producing &arious statistical series in time2 $a/ing for example< ZIS$A$
produces t'e Inflation rate and t'e Po&erty Datum ,ines on a mont'ly basis as reCuired
by t'e international standards2
ZIS$A$ 'as a compre'ensi&e data base< an establis'ed sample frame< a well
establis'ed data collection infrastructure< multiB s/illed employees and ad'eres to
international standards in t'e production of official statistics2 +it' t'ese< ZIS$A$
produces statistics t'at are used by t'e public< central go&ernment< financial institutions<
international organisations and "#-;s suc' as IF< +B and !"2 $'is s'ows t'at t'e
users of statistics 'a&e confidence in t'e operations of ZIS$A$2

oreo&er< t'e outside world &iews ZIS$A$ employees as multiBs/illed< professional<
inno&ati&e< 'ig'ly Cualified< empowered< /nowledgeable and professional analysts2 $'is
ZIMBABWE

is seen in t'e results of t'eir wor/2 $a/ing for instance t'e organi>ation recruits people
wit' good Cualifications and goes on to train t'em using t'e inBser&ice training facility to
upgrade t'eir s/ills in data collection< &alidation< storage retrie&al< display and analysis2 It
also sends staff abroad to learn furt'er and also &isits ot'er regional offices to study to
study 'ow t'ey carry out t'eir duties2
(owe&er< despite t'e abo&e t'e clients 'a&e negati&e perceptions about ZIS$A$ and its
operations2 Since ZIS$A$ is a go&ernment department< t'e clients sometimes t'in/ t'at
t'e statistics produced are manipulated to suit w'at t'e politicians or t'e go&ernment
wants
Some users also t'in/ t'at data is not easily a&ailable to t'e users2 $'is is so because of
t'e p'ysical location of t'e organisation< since it is a go&ernment department located in a
go&ernment premises2 So t'e fact t'at identity cards are reCuired upon entrance to t'e
building may be t'e contributing factor to t'e negati&e perception2

ZIMBABWE

C5%6#($
87 D*;;($(/&("<D*"&$(6%/&*(" !(#1((/ 3(4$(( 6$04$%,,( */ #($," 0; #5(0$- "#)3*(3
%# &022(4( %/3 10$. 6$%&#*&(" &%$$*(3 0)# %# ZIMSTAT8
$'ere is little di&ergence between t'e degree programme and t'e wor/ practices carried
out at ZIS$A$2 -ne of t'e differences between t'e t'eory learnt at college and t'e wor/
practices lies in t'e practical ways of executing tas/s< duties and responsibilities using
computers and different software pac/ages2
$'e writing of reports and circulars was one anot'er wor/ practice carried out in t'e
Accounts section2 $'ere are 'owe&er no differences between t'e way t'e reports and t'e
circulars are designed at ZIS$A$ and w'at was learnt at college in t'e course called
Communication2 $'e writer de&eloped interpersonal s/ills since s'e 'ad to interact wit'
different people at t'e wor/ place eit'er socially or for wor/ purposes2 S'e learnt 'ow to
communicate wit' different people on according to status ie creditors< superiors and
peers2
It can be noted t'at courses suc' as Communication< Business accounting< Information
systems< Introduction to computers and .esearc' et'odology were greatly applicable to
t'e wor/ practices carried out at ZIS$A$ during t'e period of attac'ment2
$'e Industrial Attac'ment offered t'e student t'e opportunity to eit'er apply or obser&e
t'e application of Accounting< bot' Financial and Cost and anagement Accounting<
anagement< Auditing< Financial anagement as well as Accounting Information
ZIMBABWE

Systems principles acCuired during t'e first and second years of study2 $'is was a more
effecti&e manner of grasping t'e /ey tec'nical and administrati&e issues from t'e
student;s point of &iew2
%ffecti&ely t'e attac'ment programme offered t'e student a platform to recall t'e bul/ of
t'e /nowledge s'e possessed and apply it to t'e real world of business2 Industrial
attac'ment also acclimatised 'er to t'e real wor/ en&ironment< w'ic' may be ideal to t'e
en&ironment t'e student will find 'erself after completing t'e degree programme2
Industrial .elations< Industrial et'ics< -rganisational Culture< leaders'ip styles and t'e
general demands of t'e wor/ en&ironment are some of t'e aspects internalised by t'e
writer during t'e attac'ment at ZIS$A$2
$'e Industrial Attac'ment Programme de&eloped t'e writer;s s/ills of time management
and prioritisation of tas/s in t'e order of economic importance2 $'e writer managed to
allocate time to assigned tas/s to ensure all would be complete in t'e time t'ey would be
reCuired by t'e one w'o assigned t'e tas/ in t'eir order of priority2
Initiati&e and Inno&ati&enessBt'e writer 'ad to find a way out w'en tas/ed wit'
assignments w'ere t'ere was no specific instruction on 'ow to execute t'e gi&en tas/ or
w'en situations arose t'at reCuired instant decisions w'en superiors were not a&ailable
and 'ad to ma/e important decisions regarding some operations in t'e Finance
department2 $'e writer 'ad a c'ance of suggesting on implementation of better and more
efficient ways of operation in t'e department2
+or/ing under pressureBt'e student 'ad to wor/ under pressure at times especially during
mont' ends and w'en ot'er staff were on lea&e and ended up managing to finis'
multiple tas/s in s'ort spaces of time wit'out facing any difficulties2
$'e writer faced c'allenges wit' t'e Accounting system software being used ie Public
Funds anagement System 3PFS4 because s'e 'ad no t'eoretical or practical
/nowledge of t'e system as well as some difficulties wit' icrosoft %xcel2
ZIMBABWE

-n t'e issue of t'e accounting system< t'e writer managed to grasp some concepts on t'e
use of t'e system and ot'er finance staff assisted on issues s'e did not understand2 S'e
sol&ed 'er problem wit' %xcel by exploring on t'e features t'at it 'as and using t'e 'elp
facility w'en s'e faced any problems2
$'e student faced c'allenges w'en it came to t'e day to day running costs2 $'ese span
from transport cost< accommodation cost and food2 $'ese factors affect students in t'eir
Cuest to perform t'e best of t'eir abilities and di&ert t'eir attention to trying to ma/e ends
meet2
89 P($"0/%2 D(+(206,(/#"
Since @oining ZIS$A$< t'e student 'as de&eloped personally< bot' as an employee and
as a student2 S'e managed to distinguis' 'erself as a loyal and independent employee<
w'o can wor/ under minimum super&ision and produce results e&en w'en wor/ing under
pressure2
8987 S.*22" 3(+(206(3
(ere are some of t'e /ey s/ills t'e writer 'as de&eloped during 'er time of placement< in
and out of t'e office G
S(2;D&0/;*3(/&(
Knowledge is empowerment2 $'e student was 'esitant of 'erself w'en dealing wit'
clients and communicating wit' management during 'er initial days due to lac/ of
tec'nical experience and t'e fear t'at s'e would not be able to deli&er as expected2 After
acCuiring t'e basic s/ills s'e became &ery confident and was able to con&ince 'er
superiors t'at s'e was capable of doing 'er wor/ exceptionally well2 +it' confidence 'er
ZIMBABWE

superiors were able to trust 'er t'roug'out t'e course of 'er wor/Brelated learning period2
$'e writer 'ad confidence w'en attending to clients and would also /indly refer t'em to
t'e 'ead of t'e section< w'o would best 'andle t'eir reCuests2
T*,( &0/"&*0)"
$ime management is &ery &ital in order to fit well in an organi>ation2 Some wor/ was
supposed to be done wit'in time framesF deadlines 'ad to be met especially t'e returns
for t'e comptroller and auditor general and salaryOpay net procedureP wanted at specific
times especially for payments to commence so as to a&oid entering in&alid ban/ accounts2
A 4003 &0,,)/*&%#*0/ ".*22
$'e writer 'as also de&eloped essential communication s/ills t'roug' words< actions<
body language< and &oice tone2 S'e 'as managed to respond well w'en attending to a
client bot' face to face and o&er t'e p'one< or w'en tal/ing to a superior or w'en in a
meeting2
A 4003 ?)34(,(/#%2 ".*22
S'e 'as de&eloped a good s/ill of first considering t'e ad&antages and t'e disad&antages
before ma/ing decisions 3Cost Benefit Analysis4<weig'ing ris/s in&ol&ed and anticipate
t'e s'ort term and long term effects2 $'is is ac'ie&ed by going into t'e dept' of e&ery
situation at 'and rat'er t'an to @ust assume t'ings2
W0$. D0/(
-n entering t'e Accounts section t'e student was informed t'at one needs to be computer
literate< being &ery 'onest< be able to wor/ under minimum super&ision< be time
conscious and also be accurate w'en dealing wit' figures in any case were t'ey apply2
Keeping and reconciling of t'e temporary deposit register < processing of tra&elling and
ZIMBABWE

subsistence claim forms <processing of ad&ance reCuest &ouc'ers 3local and foreign4and
processing &ouc'ers and maintenance of all commitment registers2
83 RECOMMENDATIONS
It 'as been an enlig'tening period in w'ic' t'e student got to understand t'e operations
and importance of t'e accounting section in any organisation2 (owe&er t'ere are some
areas w'ic' student feels need to be impro&ed2
8387 R(&0,,(/3%#*0/" #0 #5( 0$4%/*:%#*0/
I/+("# 5(%+*2- */ #(&5/0204*&%2 %3+%/&(,(/#"
In line wit' t'e mission statement t'at t'e department s'all use 'ig'ly automated
tec'nology to impro&e efficiency< t'ere is need to in&est in tec'nological ad&ances2
Despite 'a&ing a well connected and secure ,ocal Area "etwor/ 3,A"4 at t'e 'ead
office< t'e same cannot be said of t'e pro&incial offices2 $'ey lag be'ind in tec'nology
w'ic' at times poses a t'reat to maintenance of confidentiality2 $'ey rely on time
consuming manual systems2 $'e resources s'ould be made a&ailable to procure ad&anced
tec'nology for use in data collection suc' as is done in Sout' Africa2 It allows data to be
sent on real time basis from t'e point of collection to t'e 'ead office and Cueries can t'us
be resol&ed urgently2
In today;s global trends< organisations 'a&e to be lin/ed wit' eBmails and faxes so t'at
information can be sent on real time basis2 $'e current setBup in w'ic' some of t'e
Pro&incial -ffices recei&e faxes t'roug' ot'er offices can expose some of t'e sensiti&e
information to outsiders2 $'ere is need to ensure t'at confidentiality is maintained at all
le&els to maintain credibility of t'e organisation2 It is important t'at t'e office does not
lose control of &ital information2
ZIMBABWE

$'e organisation must also speed up t'e implementation of its website2 $'is matter
reCuires urgent attention as t'ose t'at reside out of (arare do not 'a&e ready access to
ZIS$A$ publications as t'e selling point is centrali>ed2 $'e website forms an integral
part of present day organi>ations; ability to reac' to all corners2 $'e ot'er option would
be to decentrali>e t'e sale of publications to t'e Pro&incial -ffices to allow easy access to
t'ose out of t'e capital so t'at t'ose in ot'er parts are not disad&antaged w'ile modalities
for implementation of a website are being wor/ed out2
8389 R(&0,,(/3%#*0/" #0 #5( U/*+($"*#-D D(6%$#,(/# 0; A&&0)/#"
$'e Department s'ould continue to maintain t'e current 'ig' standards t'at 'a&e made
its graduates t'e most soug't in t'e industry despite t'e enormous c'allenges being faced2
$'e Department must ma/e an effort to put in place some accounting pac/ages so as to
ma/e wor/ easier for t'e accountants and increase efficiency2 $'is will 'elp students
de&elop and appreciate t'e accounting systems and eCuipping t'em wit' muc'
experience for future purposes2
8383 C0/&2)"*0/
$'e attac'ment was time for learning< not altoget'er in t'e t'eoretical way but t'at
practical part w'ic' is onB@ob training2 $'e actual learning of @ob procedures was Cuite
interesting< toget'er wit' unCuestionable welcoming spirit of t'e organisation;s staff w'o
committed t'emsel&es to t'e training process2 $'e attac'ment training broug't a
meaningful result and benefit to my understanding of accounting procedures2
-nce again< t'e writer expresses 'er sincere gratitude to t'e management and staff of
ZIS$A$ for t'e support t'ey rendered during t'e attac'ment period and t'e opportunity
to 'a&e t'at practical appreciation of t'e t'eories learnt at college2
ZIMBABWE

S'e managed to fit smoot'ly in t'e ZIS$A$ structure2 S'e 'oped t'at t'is relations'ip
between ZIS$A$ and t'e college will be maintained so t'at t'ose students w'o are
be'ind 'er stream will 'a&e t'e opportunity to 'a&e t'e practical feel of ZIS$A$2
$'e writer really t'an/ Bindura !ni&ersity for t'eir well structured degree programme
w'ic' 'as eCuipped 'er wit' t'e necessary t'eoretical aspects w'ic' s'e 'a&e applied in
t'e industry during 'er period of placement and would also li/e to gi&e credit to
ZIS$A$ w'ic' 'as eCuipped 'er wit' t'e necessary experience during t'is period of
placement2
ZIMBABWE

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ACBF African Capacity Building Fund

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