ECZ Delivers Electoral Reform Report to Government; Recommends Constitutional Change

On Tuesday, the Electoral Commission of Zambia finalised and delivered to the Ministry of Justice its Electoral Reform Technical Committee Report. The committee consisted of lawyers, civil society voices, and political stakeholders, and was directed by the government to investigate the Zambian electoral system and institutions, and to then produce recommendations as to how they can be improved.

Among many other more technical recommendations, the commission expressed its view that Article 68 of the Constitution should be amended, to allow for constituency delimitation and a redrawing of the Zambian political map. The government shares this view, and is already pursuing these changes. The ECZ’s expert recommendations strengthen the case for these reforms and will embolden the political will behind them.

Speaking at the handover ceremony, Mwangala Zaloumis, chairperson of the ECZ, said “the issues covered under the constitutional matters included mixed member proportional representation electoral system, delimitation of constituencies, and cancellation of elections upon resignations and appointment of cabinet ministers. Submitters proposed that large constituencies be delimited to enhance development, improve political representation, enhance the efficiency of service delivery and ensure quality of the vote”.

Minister of Justice Princess Kasune thanked the ECZ for their work at the handover and pledged to give all recommendations due consideration. She noted that the ECZ’s support for delimitation will help the government as it engages all relevant stakeholders over the constitutional proposals.

Ms Kasune commended Ms Zaloumis for her public service and reaffirmed her commitment to a democratic Zambia in which “divergent views are very much encouraged”.