LUSAKA GETS 6 NEW CONSTITUENCIES
…ECZ unveils 70 new constiutuencies
By Adrian Mwanza
THE Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has announced six new constituencies in Lusaka Province to bring the total number to 18.
Announcing the delimited constituencies in Lusaka yesterday, ECZ Chairperson Mwaangala Zaloumis said no district or province was pre-allocated a fixed number of constituencies before the consultative process was concluded.
Unveiling the 70 new constituencies that will form part of Zambia’s democratic architecture ahead of the August 2026 general election and beyond, Zaloumis said that the delimitation was conducted in a transparent manner.
“I now wish to make it crystal clear that no district or province was pre-allocated a fixed number of constituencies before the consultative process was concluded. Claims to the contrary are false and misleading,” she said.
Zaloumis said the commission was committed to transparency, accountability and adherence to established legal and procedural frameworks.
She said Lusaka Province had been allocated six new constituencies comprising Chilanga North, Chongwe West, Kafue East, Makeni, Lima and Roma.
Eastern Province has been allocated nine constituencies, consisting of Chadiza East, Chama Central, Chasefu North, Chipangali West, Chipata North, Lumezi South, Lusangazi Central, Malambo West and Nyimba North, making a total of 29 constituencies.
Zaloumis said Luapula Province would have 20 constituencies after the addition of five new constituencies.
The five constituencies are Kalungwishi, Chifunabuli North, Luongo, Mansa East and Mweru.
Muchinga Province has been allocated six new constituencies comprising Chilinda, Nkombwa, Lwitikila, Mafinga South, Mpika South and Mwenzo.
“Northern Province has been given six new constituencies which comprise Kundabwika, Kasama North, Luwingu Central, Saise, Mpulungu South and Mpanda,” she said.
Zaloumis said seven new constituencies has been created for North-western Province raising it to 19 in total.
The seven new constituencies are Kabompo West, Lumwana, Mufwashi, Dongwe, Mwinilunga East, Solwezi North and Zambezi Central.
“In Southern Province, nine new constituencies comprise Choma South, Itezhi-Tezhi West, Kalomo South, Kazungula North, Maramba, Magoye West, Monze East, Namwala East and Kariba,” she said.
She said Western Province has been allocated seven new constituencies, namely Kalabo South, Luampa West, Lukulu South, Mongu East, Senanga North, Sesheke West and Shangombo.
Central Province will now have eight new constituencies comprising of Keembe West, Mwomboshi, Bwacha South, Kapiri Mposhi West, Mkushi South, Mumbwa West, Nkundalila and Mwembezhi West.
Zaloumis said the Copperbelt Province has been allocated seven new constituencies, which include Konkola, Chingola West, Chambishi, Lufwanyama East, Kalalangabo, Mpongwe East and Daghammerskjoeld.
Zaloumis said the Commission did not rush to conclude but opened the process to the people.
She said consultations were conducted in all 116 districts of Zambia.
“In these consultations, stakeholders identified issues related to delimitation such as surface area, remoteness, accessibility, geography, community cohesiveness, population growth, history and the practical challenges of representation,” Zaloumis said.
She said the final list of delimited constituencies was analytically allocated to address the needs of the people.
“In making this announcement, this process endeavours to improve representation by bringing leadership closer to the people and responding to changing settlement patterns, including population growth,” Zaloumis said.
He said the commission was aware of expectation, anxiety and deliberate misinformation of the process.
“Today’s outcome may not meet every expectation. That is understandable. Delimitation is never an exercise in satisfying every demand especially that we only have an additional 70 constituencies against a total number 116 districts countrywide,” Zaloumis said.
