The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) says it will finalize
the delimitation of electoral boundaries before 30th April 2026, a key step
ahead of the certification of the 2026 Register of Voters.
In a statement issued Monday, 12 January and monitored by Brave Heart News, ECZ Chief Electoral Officer Brown Kasaro announced that the Commission is in the final stages of preparations.
“The Commission is in the final stages of preparatory work to undertake the delimitation of constituencies,” Kasaro stated, assuring that the process will be conducted with full engagement of all stakeholders.
The exercise is being undertaken in line with the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Act No. 13 of 2025, which mandates the creation of new constituencies.
Just to Unlock Your Mind: Why Delimitation Matters
Delimitation became one of the most popular clauses during the debate on Bill 7 in 2025. Many citizens welcomed the idea, arguing that splitting overly vast and overpopulated constituencies would enhance development.
Here’s the logic:
Some constituencies are so large that the Community Development Fund (CDF) cannot adequately address all needs.
With the CDF allocation increased to 40 million Kwacha in 2026, dividing a constituency into two would mean 80 million Kwacha collectively flowing into the same geographical space - a scenario many Zambians strongly support.
Zambia currently has 156 constituencies, but Amendment Act No. 13 (Bill 7) provides for 226 constituencies, meaning 70 new seats are expected.
Debate intensified in 2025 when stakeholders demanded to know which constituencies would be affected. Mazabuka MP Gary Nkombo raised the question during ECZ’s appearance as witness before the Select Committee he [Nkombo] was part of scrutinizing Bill 7.
ECZ’s response - summarised by Brave Heart News as “the report can only be released by the Executive after the Constitution has officially been amended” - left many Zambians dissatisfied.
Concerns and High Stakes With such significant political and developmental implications, the stakes are high. Some citizens fear the exercise could be influenced by partisan interests, potentially advantaging certain political parties.
President Hakainde Hichilema has previously said: “There used to be discrimination in the past during delimitation.” This statement heightened the public’s expectation that the upcoming process must be transparent, fair, and development-oriented.
As April approaches, all eyes remain on ECZ to see how the final map of Zambia’s new constituencies will look - and what it will mean for the 2026 General Election.
In a statement issued Monday, 12 January and monitored by Brave Heart News, ECZ Chief Electoral Officer Brown Kasaro announced that the Commission is in the final stages of preparations.
“The Commission is in the final stages of preparatory work to undertake the delimitation of constituencies,” Kasaro stated, assuring that the process will be conducted with full engagement of all stakeholders.
The exercise is being undertaken in line with the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Act No. 13 of 2025, which mandates the creation of new constituencies.
Just to Unlock Your Mind: Why Delimitation Matters
Delimitation became one of the most popular clauses during the debate on Bill 7 in 2025. Many citizens welcomed the idea, arguing that splitting overly vast and overpopulated constituencies would enhance development.
Here’s the logic:
Some constituencies are so large that the Community Development Fund (CDF) cannot adequately address all needs.
With the CDF allocation increased to 40 million Kwacha in 2026, dividing a constituency into two would mean 80 million Kwacha collectively flowing into the same geographical space - a scenario many Zambians strongly support.
Zambia currently has 156 constituencies, but Amendment Act No. 13 (Bill 7) provides for 226 constituencies, meaning 70 new seats are expected.
Debate intensified in 2025 when stakeholders demanded to know which constituencies would be affected. Mazabuka MP Gary Nkombo raised the question during ECZ’s appearance as witness before the Select Committee he [Nkombo] was part of scrutinizing Bill 7.
ECZ’s response - summarised by Brave Heart News as “the report can only be released by the Executive after the Constitution has officially been amended” - left many Zambians dissatisfied.
Concerns and High Stakes With such significant political and developmental implications, the stakes are high. Some citizens fear the exercise could be influenced by partisan interests, potentially advantaging certain political parties.
President Hakainde Hichilema has previously said: “There used to be discrimination in the past during delimitation.” This statement heightened the public’s expectation that the upcoming process must be transparent, fair, and development-oriented.
As April approaches, all eyes remain on ECZ to see how the final map of Zambia’s new constituencies will look - and what it will mean for the 2026 General Election.
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