Women implore ZEC, stakeholders to educate citizens on delimitation
Providence Moyo
Women in Bulawayo are appealing to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) and stakeholders who are well vested in delimitation and electoral processes to make time and educate citizens on the impacts and implications of the newly gazatted delimitation report.
This came to light during a virtual engagement that was hosted by Amakhosikazi Media where some participants said they needed clarity on the report as they do not understand what the report means to voters.
Dorcas Dengu, a participant said she is relying on information from fellow community members who are also not well conversant with the implications of the delimitation report, a key document in Zimbabwe’s electoral cycle.
“Sike saba lomuntu obuyileyo esontweni ukuzosichasisela ireport kodwa kakubekanga kwacaca ukuthi vele le ireport itshintsha njani indawo zethu lobukhokheli esiphila ngaphansi kwabo ngakho kuqakathekile ukuthi umuntu ololwazi olwanele abuye azosibikela njengezakhamizi ukuthi le ireport iphetheni ngempilo zethu,” she said.
Another participant whose username is Noma, said they are aware that there is merging of constituencies but t are not clear as to what this actually means.
” Sizwa kuthwa kule merging of constituencies eyenzakalayo kumele saziswe ukuthi kutshoni lokho njalo what difference does it make in terms of choosing our leaders?,” she said.
Commenting on the issue, Zimbabwe Election Support Network Programmes Director Ellen Dingane added that residents need to be educated on the new maps and boundaries that are a product of the delimitation report.
“Looking at the report, there is still a lot that needs to be done as it would be important that there is proper and thorough education on the maps, boundaries and split constituencies,” she said.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa gazetted the delimitation report last week under controversial circumstances amidst accusations from his critics for missing the deadline for gazzeting the report.
