Delimitation process academic, says Siamunene
By Adrian Mwanza
THE ongoing delimitation consultation process is not people-driven because the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) is just using it to rubberstamp government’s decision, says New Focus Party (NFP) president Richwell Siamunene.
In an interview with The Mast, Siamunene said the process was just a farce because ECZ, working with the executive, had already decided which constituencies would be delimited.
Recently, Senior Chief Mwamba of the Bemba people of Kasama and Paramount Chief Mpezeni of the Ngonis in Eastern Province rejected the proposed delimitation process and told ECZ to go back and report their positions to government.
Chief Mwamba said the proposal that Kasama be given one constituency was wrong because people needed at least two more since it was vast.
Siamunene said he was not shocked by such reactions because people were not involved in the process.
He wondered what the rush was all about as the process needed wide consultations from various stakeholders.
“This process is just being rubberstamped using the people of Zambia as decisions have already been made. And what is happening is just a formality. Whether Zambians participate or not, UPND [United Party for National Development] and ECZ are determined to delimitate these constituencies and they will go ahead with or without the blessings from the people of Zambia,” Siamunene said.
He said people needed time instead of being ambushed in the manner it was being done.
Siamunene said there was no due diligence carried out before, warning that the process was all about the UPND and power.
