Opposition ZAPU has said the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC)’s ‘shambolic’ delimitation of constituencies and electoral boundaries report is a clear indication that the electoral management body is ill-equipped for the general elections due this year.
The report which has attracted criticisms for legislators and civil society organisations was on January 3 presented to parliament.
Matabeleland South which had 13 constituencies allocated to it during the previous 2007/8 delimitation exercise now has 12 after losing one to Harare which now has 30.
In moving away a constituency, ZEC cited the low number of registered voters in Matabeleland South.
The reconfiguration of constituencies has seen Bulilima East and Bulilima West being merged into one – Bulilima Constituency while Matobo South and Matobo South were amalgamated into one – Matobo Constituency.
Gwanda Central was collapsed, merged with some parts of Beitbridge, and renamed Gwanda-Tshitaudze.
ZEC went on to create a new constituency – Matobo-Mangwe – on the boundary of the two districts which are separated by the Simukhwe River.
“The shambolic way ZEC has conducted the delimitation process shows how they’re ill-prepared to manage elections,” ZAPU spokesperson, Msongelwa Ndlovu, told CITE.
Ndlovu, however, said the report was a reflection of migration in Matabeleland South which is going to lose one constituency should the report be adopted.
“The unintended consequences of this report is the exposure of migration of our citizens, especially in Mat South, where a constituency has been lost, due to economic maladministration by ZANU-PF,” he said.
“The report further indicates that our people have no confidence in our electoral systems and processes, no wonder the disinterest to participate.”
Meanwhile, Mthwakazi Republic Party (MRP) has threatened mass action should the report be adopted in its current form.
