Chiefs and citizens quizzing Electoral Commission of Zambia delimitation plan worries Talk with Frank 🦜
Chiefs and citizens quizzing Electoral Commission of Zambia delimitation plan worries Talk with Frank 🦜 Mutubila
By Frank Mutubila
It is sad to see the number of Chiefs and citizens raising serious concerns about the delimitation plan during the ongoing consultative meetings of the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ).
The tone and weight of these objections cannot be ignored. They reflect deep care for the country and genuine concern about its future direction.
Why undertake such a sensitive national exercise in a manner that appears reversed, where consensus seems to be pursued after positions have already hardened. Consultation must build agreement before decisions feel settled, not after.
What happens if the majority reject the proposal. What if it is opposed in more than six provinces. Does the Commission proceed regardless, or does it return to the people for further refinement. These are not hostile questions. They arise from a sincere desire to safeguard stability, fairness, and public confidence.
Delimitation is about representation, balance, and the long term strength of our democracy. When Chiefs speak, they carry the voice of their communities. When citizens object, they are expressing their responsibility to the nation. Listening does not weaken institutions. It strengthens them.
Those entrusted with national authority should always remember that the decisions made today have a bearing on the future of the country. The consequences of these choices will shape representation, unity, and trust for generations to come.
The way forward must be transparent, inclusive, and genuinely responsive. Where there is overwhelming concern, there must be review. Where there is disagreement, there must be deeper dialogue. The unity of the nation and the confidence of its people must always come first.
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