Constituencies increased to 156, as six more are created

Cabinet has approved the recommendation by the Minister of Justice to commence the enactment
of a new Constitution by Parliament in a phased manner by taking to Parliament non-contentious clauses and subjecting the Bill of rights and contentious clauses to a Referendum to be held simultaneously with the 2016.

Acting Chief Government Spokesperson Ngosa Simbyakula says Cabinet also approved the recommendation to appoint Members of the Electoral Commission as Members of the Referendum Commission to prepare for the Referendum.

And Cabinet has approved the recommendation by the Electoral Commission of Zambia to create six new constituencies in order to cater for the six new districts whose boundaries cut across constituency boundaries resulting in those constituencies belonging to more than one district.

The recommendation by the ECZ followed consultations with all political parties under the ECZ Political Liaison Committee and all political parties agreed to the creation of the six new constituencies.

The affected Districts and Constituencies are Siavonga Constituency which belongs to both Siavonga district and the new district, Chirundu, Sinjembela Constituency which belongs to both Shangombo district and the new district, Sioma; Mansa Central Constituency which belongs to both Mansa district and the new district, Chembe; and Kaoma Central Constituency which belongs to both Kaoma district and the new district, Nkeyema.

Others are Kapiri Mposhi Constituency which belongs to both Kapiri Mposhi district and the new district,Luano and Kapoche Constituency which belongs to both Petauke district and the new district, Sinda.

Dr Simbyakula has however clarified that there will be no elections in the six new constituencies until the General elections in 2016.

He says this measure is to enable the ECZ to register voters when they commence the voter registration exercise in August this year.