Jambezi residents react to new boundaries

Victor Sibanda

Jambezi community members are in a difficult position following the delimitation exercise which pushed them to another constituency where they claim not to know a single potential candidate for the harmonized elections set for later this year.

Residents of Nemananga , Mbizha and Chikandakubi wards have expressed concerns about being removed from their traditional constituency, Hwange West to join Hwange East.

“Chikandakubi ward is now in Hwange East and the candidates are people whom we do not know as some are from Dete. I feel we will not be well represented. This is forcing us to choose any person. I am not impressed by this,” said Mr Malvin Ngwenya from BH 13. He added that most people in the area do not know much about the changes brought about by the delimitation exercise.

The Nemananga Ward community claims that the majority of the residents do not know about the delimitation that was done due to alleged poor communication systems employed by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission and other election stakeholders.

” I am not aware of the changes. ZEC people did not tell us where we should go to vote. This side we do not have reliable radio and television coverage. We listen to Zambian radio stations. I believe that the vital information skipped us. I do not know our new candidates in the new constituency. We might meet them during campaigns. Surely , how can I get help from a Member of Parliament who resides more than 100km away from my ward? It is absurd,” said Mr Kainos Thembani Nyoni.

Mbizha ward was recently divided into two parts with the other part going to Hwange East constituency.The delimitation process resulted in the ward getting engulfed into the Hwange East constituency, a development
“The electoral body should have done consultations because we expect to vote for candidates that we know. We will be forced to elect a person we are not sure of,” said Pejani Dube from Gondwa communal lands.

Nemananga ward headman, Simon Mazhanga said contents of the delimitation report were communicated to his subjects and most of them were not amused.

“Residents were apprised of the delimitation report at ward meetings. Many people were not happy, but I am certain that we played our part as leaders and advised them accordingly, ” said Mazhanga.

A ZEC official conducting the registration blitz in Jambezi refused to comment on the matter but said the delimitation report was published for all citizens.

The delimitation process affected many communities in the country with some people finding themselves in different wards and constituencies far away from their residential places.