Delimitation in 2023 This is based on the view that since the Constitution allegedly silent on the commencement of the 10-year duration, then 2013 is the correct date for the next delimitation exercise that being 10 years after the adoption of the new Constitution in 2013. However, this view overlooks the fact that the new Constitution did not commence in a vacuum. The new Constitution recognises the principle of succession in sections 9, 10 and 11 of the Sixth Schedule. Where the Constitution did not include previous terms or events before its adoption, it states so clearly. Where it is silent, the terms served or past events should be computed from when they occurred. On that basis, the fact that the last delimitation exercise was performed in 2008 must be taken as the starting point, in which case 2018 would be the next natural date for the delimitation exercise. The second advantage of having 2023 as the date for the next delimitation exercise is that it would align the delimitation process with the population census which is next due in 2022. It will also align with the next elections after 2018, which are due in 2023. On this basis, waiting for 2023 would seem to be a perfect scenario to align delimitation not only with the election but also with the census which would have taken place a year before. This is a significant point, but it would mean going into the 2018 elections without any delimitation having taken place. It also overlooks the fact that by the time the 2028 elections are held, there delimitation won’t be due until 2032. There is therefore no unique advantage in the alignment of the census, delimitation and elections in 2023. Delimitation in 2018 As pointed out above, an interpretation which takes into account what happened before the new Constitution came into force would recognise that the last delimitation process was in 2008 and therefore, 10 years afterwards would be in 2018. This interpretation will dislocate the delimitation process from the 2023 elections but this is a natural consequence of the fact that the delimitation is now coming at 10 year intervals, rather than 5 years. On this interpretation, the next delimitation process after 2018 would be in 2028 which is also consistent with the elections of that year. Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, the country has already gone through one election without a delimitation exercise. There was cause for concern that the electoral boundaries in the 2013 elections were not accurate or representative of the population distribution. That risk will be higher in the 2018 elections, leading to gross distortions in the electoral outcome. It would be undesirable for Zimbabwe to go into another election without a proper delimitation of electoral boundaries, particularly given the migration patterns between 2008 and 2018. Outdated census data? One weakness with carrying out delimitation in 2018 is that population census data will be outdated given that the last census was carried out in 2012. 6 years between the census and the delimitation exercise is a long period and that data may not be reliable. However, while population data is an important factor in the delimitation process, it is by no means the only data set. More significant is the data on voter registration and the voters’ roll. If that data can be captured in time for the 2018 elections and there is a credible and trusted voters roll, that should be a good data set to complement the census data for purposes of carrying out the 5|Page