Citizen participation cardinal in delimitation-ECZ

The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has concluded a stakeholders’ consultative meeting on delimitation in Limulunga District of Western Province, emphasising the importance of citizen participation in shaping the country’s electoral boundaries. District Electoral Officer, Kaunga Namenda, stressed that the exercise aims to strengthen democracy for future generations and urged stakeholders to engage constructively. “The Commission wishes to remind all of you that delimitation is a national exercise aimed at strengthening democracy for generations to come,” Mr Namenda stated.

Mr Namenda said that the delimitation exercise is a national initiative aimed at enhancing democracy. He urged the stakeholders to participate fully to reach consensus on how constituencies in the district can be demarcated. And the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) Commissioner Ndiyoyi Mutiti was pleased with the manner stakeholders conducted themselves during the deliberations.

Ms Mutiti highlighted the importance of conducting the nationwide sittings as they gave the local people the power to decide for themselves. ” I’m happy with the way you have conducted yourselves during the deliberations. This is how it is supposed to be,” Ms Ndiyoyi said.

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Stakeholders praised ECZ for the exercise, citing potential benefits such as enhanced development in underserved areas and job creation for youths. Meanwhile, Youth representative Precious Ngenda welcomed the exercise, saying, demarcating bigger constituencies will spur development in areas that have lagged behind, benefiting unemployed youths. Women’s representative, Nañuwa Lipalile, highlighted the potential impact on maternal healthcare, citing the presidential directive to construct maternity annexes in every constituency.Ms Lipalile said the directive will enable women to access maternal health services closer to home, reducing maternal mortality rates and referrals, once a new constituency is created.“My views are that once another constituency is created; we believe the constituency will have a new maternity annex under the Presidential Directive of constructing maternity annexes in every constituency.

This will reduce cases of maternal mortality,” Ms Lipalile said.The Barotse Royal Establishment (BRE) thanked ECZ for the meetings with Induna Likubangwa urging stakeholders to respect the outcome.” I call upon our people in this area to be patient and allow ECZ to look at our submissions,” Induna Likubangwa said.Meanwhile, ECZ Commissioner Ndiyoyi Mutiti emphasised the importance of nationwide sittings, allowing locals to have a say in constituency demarcation.The Limulunga delimitation sitting marked the final day of countrywide consultations.The Electoral Commission of Zambia has embarked on conducting meetings countrywide where it is receiving submissions from the citizenry on delimitation of some constituencies for various reasons. Women’s representative, Nañuwa Lipalile, highlighted the potential impact on maternal healthcare, citing the presidential directive to construct maternity annexes in every constituency. Ms Lipalile said the directive will enable women to access maternal health services closer to home, reducing maternal mortality rates and referrals, once a new constituency is created.“My views are that once another constituency is created; we believe the constituency will have a new maternity annex under the Presidential Directive of constructing maternity annexes in every constituency. Ms Lipalile said the directive will enable women to access maternal health services closer to home, reducing maternal mortality rates and referrals, once a new constituency is created.

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