📌 4.1 National Assembly Constituencies
✓ In order to determine the voter population thresholds permissible in line with section 161(6) of the Constitution, the total number of registered voters at the national level was divided by 210 constituencies resulting in a national average of 27 640voters per constituency.
✓ A twenty per cent variance from the national average was then determined resulting in a maximum registered voter threshold of 33 169 and a minimum threshold of 22 112voters.
✓ Thus, any such constituency delimited was expected to fall within the minimum and maximum thresholds.
4.2 Local Authority Wards
✓ The total number of registered voters in each local authority was divided according to the number of members to be elected to the local authority concerned.
• A twenty percent variance from the local authority average was then determined.
•For example in Bulawayo Municipality the number of registered voters of 270 938 was divided by 29 wards to give an average of 9 343. The twenty per cent variance was determined resulting in a maximum registered voter threshold of 11 212and a minimum threshold of 7 474 voters.
Thus, any ward delimited was expected to fall within the minimum and maximum thresholds.
NOTE: The thrust of the commission was to ensure fair regional representation, adherence to national objectives, minimise prejudice across provinces, maintain equity and equality as well as stability of existing electoral boundaries.
•To achieve this, the voter population within each province was divided by the number of existing constituencies in the respective province.
° Once the average number of registered voters per constituency at provincial level was determined, it was then compared to the minimum and maximum national thresholds.
• In instances where the average number of registered voters per constituency within a province was below the minimum national threshold, the number of constituencies was adjusted to a point where the minimum national
lower threshold was adhered to.
5.0 Outcome of the Delimitation
✓ In general, no voters were moved from their polling stations.
Registered voters in each ward and constituency will vote at their usual polling stations although
their ward number or name of constituency may have changed.
It is also important to note that:
• Wards and constituencies in sparsely populated areas are larger in aerial extent since they have to draw their population from large areas due to low population densities e.g., wildlife conservancies and large commercial
farming areas.
Conversely, wards and constituencies in densely populated areas are relatively small in aerial extent e.g., peri-urban and urban areas.
• The shape, aerial extent and distribution of some wards and constituencies changed due to variation in the distribution of registered voters in provinces.
Notable changes were observed in the following provinces:
i) Bulawayo:
= Seven constituencies were reconfigured and renamed as follows:
Bulawayo North,
Cowdry Park,
Emakhandeni-Luveve
Entumbane-Njube,
Lobengula-Magwegwe
Mpopoma-Mzilikazi and
Pelandaba-Tshabalala.
ii) Harare:
✓ Three constituencies were created from Harare South constituency namely
• Churu,
• Harare South and;
•Hunyani.
¶ An additional constituency was created in Epworth resulting in Epworth North and Epworth South Constituency.
• Harare North was reconfigured and renamed to Hatcliffe constituency.
iii) Manicaland Province:
• Musikavanhu and Chipinge West were merged to create Chipinge west Constituency.
• The collapsed constituency formed Chikanga Constituency after Dangamvura-Chikanga was split due to high
population.
iv) Mashonaland East:
• Three constituencies namely;
– Chikomba Central,
– Chikomba East,
– Chikomba West were reconfigured due to low registered voter population.
– As a result Chikomba Central was collapsed and two Constituencies remain namely Chikomba East and Chikomba West.
v) Masvingo Province:
• Gutu South was collapsed and merged with other existing constituencies due to low registered voter population which failed to meet the minimum threshold for a constituency.
• However the collapsed constituency was replaced by the creation of a new Chiredzi Central
Constituency.
• In the same vein Zaka East and Zaka West were collapsed and reconfigured to form a new Zaka South Constituency.
• One of the collapsed constituencies was replaced by the creation of a new Mwenezi North constituency.
• In effect the Province retained its previously allocated 26 constituencies.
vi) Matabeleland South:
✓ The province had very low numbers of registered voters therefore it was allocated 12 constituencies after Bulilima East was collapsed to meet the minimum threshold.
vii) Midlands Province:
✓ Mberengwa South constituency was collapsed and three constituencies now remain i.e.,
Mberengwa East, Mberengwa West and Mberengwa Central.
This collapsed constituency was replaced by the creation of a new Mkoba North constituency.
vi) Matabeleland South:
✓ The province had very low numbers of registered voters therefore it was allocated 12 constituencies after Bulilima East was collapsed to meet the minimum threshold.
Here is the 2023 Elections Delimitation Process sequence:
✓ Jan 6: Parliament tabling of preliminary report.
✓ Jan 7 – Report review by Parliament Committee.
✓ Jan 13 – Parliament Committee reports findings
✓ Jan 17/18 – Parliament debates findings
✓ Jan 19 – Parly presents recommendations to President
Ad Hoc Committee on the Analysis of Zimbabwe Electoral Commission Preliminary Report on the Delimitation Exercise
• Hon. P. Togarepi (Chairperson),
• Hon. C. Madiwa,
• Hon. C. Mpame,
• Hon. K. Musanhi,
• Hon. Sen. T.V. Muzenda, • Hon. Sen. D.Mwonzora, • Hon. M. Ncube,
• Hon. A. Ndebele
• Hon. D. Nduna,
• Hon. Sen. Dr. D.P. Parirenyatwa,
• Hon. Sen. Chief Siansali,
• Hon. P. D. Sibanda,
• Hon. D. Tekeshe
source: Delimitation Report 2022
