Give Mafinga 3 constituencies - residents

DELEGATES at the just-ended Mafinga stakeholders’ delimitation meeting have unanimously proposed to divide the district into three constituencies. Delegates included all the 11 councillors, Chief Mwene Chifungwe and Muyombe representation from political parties, civil society organisations, the Church, traditional leaders and members of the general public. They also proposed the creation of two additional wards, 16 additional polling districts and 16 polling stations. The proposed constituencies are Musipizi in the Luangwa Valley and Kalanga in Muyombe area North and Mafinga in the central area. The delegates also proposed creation of two wards namely Vumbo to be annexed from Luhoka Ward and Serenje to be split from Ntonga Ward. One of the delegates, Shadrick Singogo, said dividing Mafinga district into three constituencies would enhance people’s representation. Mr Singogo, who is Mafinga District Council vice chairperson said Mafinga Constituency is too vast to have one constituency hence the need to have two more constituencies. “Looking at the geographical terrain of Mafinga district and the vastness we thought creating two additional constituencies will enhance development in the remotest parts of the district,” Mr Singogo said. He said creation of additional constituencies in Mafinga would necessitate the creation of more wards and polling stations to make it easy for the electorate to access electoral services. Mr Singogo, however, said there is need for the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to consider creating more wards in the district to increase interaction between the councillors and the electorate. Mafinga district electoral officer Peter Nguluwe said he was impressed with the good turnout at the delimitation sittings. Mr Nguluwe commended stakeholders that included traditional leaders, churches, NGOs, political leaders from the ruling and opposition parties, civic leaders and general public for fully participating in the process. He said the process was consultative and represented the will of the people of Mafinga.