BY LWANDLE MTHUNZI
Victoria Falls’ population grew by more than 10 000 voters since the 2007/2008 parliamentary elections, but this was not enough to lead TO creation of new wards in the new city.
Victoria Falls became a city in 2019 and there have been calls for the urban area to have its own constituency outside of the current Hwange West.
But, however, low voter registration seemed to have worked against the city as 22 001 people had registered to vote as at May 30, 2022.
In its delimitation report, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) said in their records only 10 490 voters had been added from the 2007/2008 total.
The city had hoped to gain more wards, but there are indications that three wards have collapsed in Chinotimba, according to a meeting recently held by the local MP Godfrey Dube’s office.
The city has 11 wards, with 10 confirmed to be in Chinotimba, city centre, low density and Aerodrome while Mkhosana accounted for ward 11.
The ward will be divided into three, according to the preliminary report.
Hwange West MP Dube said electorate are concerned by the delimitation process whose process lacked proper consultation.
He said there are also concerns why two wards from the constituency were noted under a neighbouring constituency, Hwange East.
“Nemananga and Chikandakubi were labeled as Hwange East, we need clarification on that,” said Dube.
He said even considering proximity between the two constituencies, the wards cannot be put under Hwange East.
Hwange East covers areas south and east of Hwange town which is Hwange Central constituency.
“Hwange West people feel they are being shortchanged in terms of representation, he added.
“We need proper representation and as it stands people are not happy and wish there could be more consultations by Zec. ”
Zec delimitation report was handed to President Emmerson Mnangagwa and tabled efore Parliament last Friday.
The delimitation formula was such that in order to determine the voter population thresholds permissible in line with Section 161 (6) of the Constitution, the total number of registered voters at national level was divided by 210 constituencies resulting in a national average of 27 640 voters per constituency.
A 20 percent variance from the national average was then determined, resulting a maximum registered voter threshold of 33 169 and minimum threshold of 22 112 voters.
And any constituency delimited was supposed to fall within the minimum and maximum thresholds.
The same formula applied to local authorities where the total number of voters was divided by number of wards.
Harmonised elections will be held later this year.
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