The Electoral Commission of
Zambia (ECZ) has written to government on the need to amend the current
constitution to facilitate the increase in the number of constituencies in the
country from 150 to 235. ECZ chairperson Irene Mambilima says this has been
necessitated by the creation of new districts in the country.
Speaking during a special
meeting of the political parties liaison Committee on delimitation in Lusaka
this morning, Justice Mambilima says challenge to the commission as a result of
the creation of the new districts is a situation where a District with one
constituency has been demarcated into two. She names the affected districts as
Chirundu, Chembe, Sioma, Nkeyema and Ngabwe which demarcated from Siavonga,
Mansa, Shangombo, Kapiri Mposhi and Kaoma Districts.
Justice Mambilima says it is
for this reason that going forward the commission has suggested the increase in
the number of constituencies in the affected new Districts so that each of them
should have its own constituency.
Meanwhile, Justice Mambilima
says the Commission is not asking for something out of the ordinary by
requesting to be granted more powers to enable a leveled electoral playing
field in the country.
Justice Mambilima says the
commission holds the position that in order to effectively level the electoral
playing field it must be given powers to impose more severe sanctions on erring
political parties. She has cited the Kenyan Electoral Code of Conduct which
contains severe sanctions including fining or banning of political parties from
taking part in next elections.
Original article: http://allafrica.com/stories/201406160348.html
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