Kitwe Council wants more in wards

THE Kitwe City Council has proposed that the number of wards should be increased from 28 to 35 to allow councillors serve the electorate effectively.

Town Clerk, Mbulo Seke, said the proposal followed concerns from various stakeholders and councillors who complained that some of the wards were too vast.

Mr Seke was speaking yesterday at a meeting with councillors, representatives of political parties, civil society organizations and other stakeholders on the 2019 delimitation of constituencies, wards and polling districts.

“As a council under the Ministry of Local Government, the Kitwe City Council has proposed that thenumber of wards be increased by seven. This means the number of wards will increase from 28 to 35.

“This proposal has come because some wards are too big and cannot be managed by one councillor. They need to be divided to allow councillors manage their wards and serve the electorate effectively,’’ Mr Seke said.

Mr Seke said however that the council would not make a proposal on the number of constituencies to be increased because 156 was the number indicated in the Republican Constitution and it could only be changed if the constitution was amended

“This was just a briefing, but we will invite you to come and make proposals on how the wards, constituencies and polling stations would be divided to the convenience of the electorate.

“Despite the fact that the current number of constituencies is in the Republican constitution and needed the constitution to be amended to make changes, citizens are free to make their proposals on the delimitation process,’’ he said.