Primary Benefit of Delimitation Is Elimination of Inadequate Representation
ZIPPORAH MUSHALA
VAST constituencies have long been the silent enemy of rural development in Zambia, acting as a logistical bottleneck to development. For decades, the sheer geographic scale of electoral boundaries has created a representational gap, where the distance between a member of Parliament’s office and the most remote village could span hundreds of kilometres. This vastness has stood as a formidable barrier to the United Party for National Development (UPND) administration’s decentralisation vision.
This agenda focuses on the devolution of resources through the enhanced Constituency Development Fund (CDF). After taking over from the Patriotic Front (PF) in 2021, the UPND government, alias the New Dawn administration, increased Act No. 13 of 2025: Legal key unlocking enhanced CDF impact Special report CDF from K1.6 million to K25.7 million for the year 2022. This amount was further adjusted upwards to K28.3 million in 2023, K30.6 million in 2024, K36.1 million in 2025 and K40 million in 2026. The primary benefit of delimitation is the elimination of inadequate representation. When a constituency is too large, resources are spread too thinly, and the impact of development becomes almost invisible to those on the periphery. Redrawing boundaries ensures that every area has equal access to the national cake. It is in this regard that since ascending to office in 2021, the UPND government has been pushing for delimitation as a cornerstone of Primary benefit of delimitation is elimination of inadequate representation its development agenda. Delimitation is fundamentally about fairness; it ensures that the population quota is balanced so that representation is not diluted by the overwhelming size of an area.
Realigning boundaries brings administrative and social services such as clinics, schools and police posts closer to the doorstep of the people. It empowers the local citizenry to drive their own solutions through CDF. The solution to these challenges was the historic Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Bill No. 7 of 2025. On Monday December 15, 2025, the National Assembly passed the amended Bill 7 at its Third Reading with a historic two-thirds majority. Of the members present, 135 voted in favour, with none voting against, or abstaining. President Hakainde Hichilema subsequently assented to the bill on December 18, 2025, making it the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Act No. 13 of 2025. The broader aims of Act No. 13 go beyond simple boundary changes. It provides the legal mandate to increase the number of constituency-based parliamentary seats from 156 to 226. Crucially, it also introduces a mixed-member proportional representation system. CHIEF Chitimukulu.
This ensures that the National Assembly is more inclusive, specifically reserving seats to guarantee the representation of women, youths and persons with disabilities. Reactions from across the nation underscore the significance of delimitation. For traditional leaders, the move is a long-awaited relief. Paramount Chief Chitimukulu of the Bemba expressed his profound gratitude. “I was always complaining that Malole Constituency was so big. Now I have been informed that it will be divided into three. So, on that, we really appreciate,” he said. Political leaders also hailed the move as a victory for service delivery. Kantanshi Member of Parliament (MP) Anthony Mumba noted that in massive areas like Kasama and Kanyama, communities often remain underdeveloped. “When constituencies are too MUMBA KASARO local government. With the law enacted, the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) is now on a strict timeline. On January 12, 2026, ECZ chief electoral officer Brown Kasaro stated that the commission is in the final stages of preparatory work for the delimitation exercise. He explained that the task will be completed before the certification of the Register of Voters on April 30, 2026. big, resources are spread too thin, and representation becomes diluted,” Mr Mumba said.
Similarly, Mbabala MP Joseph Munsanje explained that delimitation will allow for the formation of new districts, thereby improving efficiency. Stakeholders such as the Zambia United Local Authorities and Allied Workers Union (ZULAWA) president Emmanuel Mwinsa have described the exercise as a “game changer” that will enhance the performance of “The commission assures stakeholders that it is treating the delimitation exercise with the urgency it deserves,” Mr Kasaro said. Delimitation is the final piece of the puzzle in Zambia’s quest for equitable development. By breaking down the barriers of distance, the nation is redrawing its future. Through the synergy of Act No. 13 of 2025 and the enhanced CDF, the promise of the “New Dawn” is finally moving from the halls of Parliament to every ward in Zambia.
