Zimbabwe: 2000 Delimitation Report

Updated 2000

The President appointed the Delimitation Commission on 28 March 2000 (beyond the five-year interval called for by Article 60 (8) of the Constitution). The final report of the Delimitation Commission was completed by the end of May and entered into public circulation in the second week of June.

The total number of people who registered as voters up to 16 April was 5 049 815 and formed the basis of the delimitation process. A supplemental voters' roll was enabled to include all those who registered between 16 April and 12 June.

With 120 constituencies in the country, the average number of voters per constituency was 42 082. In terms of the provision of section 60 (4) of the Constitution, the minimum number of voters per constituency would become 42 082 minus 20% (33 666), while the maximum number of voters would become 42 082 plus 20% (50 498).

The delimitation process treated the provinces as administrative entities and the number of constituencies allocated per province was established by dividing the total number of registered voter per province by the average number of voters per constituency and then rounded off. See List of Constituencies by Province

Since the 1995 elections the provinces of Bulawayo, Harare and Mashonaland West have each lost one constituency. The provinces of Mashonaland Central, Matabeleland South and Midlands have each gained one constituency.

The Delimitation report also states that the Commission has "endeavoured to ensure that the number of registered voters in one constituency is as nearly as may be equal to the number of registered voters in each of the other constituencies in the same province."

Where this was not possible the Commission maintains that is has sought to preserve the community of interest and sought to avoid combining, for example, rural and urban areas.