ECZ annoys East Chiefs over delimitation

FAILURE by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to consult Chiefs in Chipangali constituency over the delimitation exercise has angered traditional leaders in the area.

Chief Chanje of the Chewa in Chipata said he was not happy that ECZ had bypassed

the traditional leader over the delimitation process in Chipangali constituency.

Chief Chanje said ECZ erred by first interacting with the subjects before meeting the chiefs.

In an interview he said chiefs were only asked to send a representative for a stakeholders meeting on the delimitation exercise of wards and constituencies.

“How can they start with our subjects for such an important undertaking such as the delimitation exercise it’s not right,” said chief Chanje.

Chief Chanje said majority of the subjects did not move long distances so they could not know much about wards and constituent boundaries.

He said the ECZ should have called on chiefs in the area who would then had assigned subjects after they were advised by the chiefs.

“Let’s work together to speed up development in the district and the nation at large and not cause confusion where there is none,” he said

The ECZ last conducted reviews of constituency boundaries in 2010 and later in 2014 which resulted in an increase in the number of wards from 1,422 to 1,624 and from 6,456 to 7,700 polling districts nationwide.

The Constitutional Amendment No 2 of 2016 also increased the number of constituencies from 150 to the current 156.

Currently the ECZ undertaking delimitation of constituencies, wards and polling districts which started from July 8, 2019 to November 31, 2019.