delimitation process. This means there is a need to focus strongly on the establishment of a new and credible voter’ roll. The problems with Zimbabwe’s voters roll are well-known. There is a serious lack of transparency and stakeholders have long complained that the voters roll is in a shambolic state. When the opposition parties and civil society demanded a copy of the electronic copy of the voters roll before the 2013 elections, ZEC and the Registrar General failed and/or refused to comply, contrary to the law and court orders. This severely damaged the legitimacy of the election outcome. Thus if ZEC is to use the voters roll to delimit electoral boundaries, it would have to revamp the entire system to ensure credibility and trust. In this regard, ZEC is mulling the introduction of bio-metric voter registration (BVR), which could vastly improve the voters roll but it would also require time and resources. However, considering the pressing need for a delimitation exercise, investment in the BVR system would be good use of scarce resources. If done properly, this new data set will provide the material for a delimitation exercise before the 2018 elections. Recommendations In light of the above, a number of recommendations can be made to the relevant authorities:  The next delimitation process should take place before the 2018 elections to help promote their credibility and legitimacy. Current electoral boundaries are distorted and unreliable.  ZEC must roll out the new voter registration system, based on BVR or any other system, as soon as possible to ensure that there is a credible and trusted voters roll which can be the basis of the delimitation process.  Provisions of the Electoral Law which are no longer consistent with the new Constitution must be amended.  The Electoral Law must specifically include factors such as the principle against nondiscrimination of minorities among factors to consider when drawing electoral boundaries. The ease and convenience of travel to polling stations within a delimited area is an important factor of consideration in the delimitation process.  While the Constitution and the Electoral Act go some way to advance the principles which underpin delimitation, more can be done to ensure that the delimitation process is open, efficient, effective and independent.  While ZEC has discretion on the choice of methods it can use for carrying out the mapping and delimitation exercise, it is encouraged to adopt and use new computerbased and digital technologies which is more accurate, faster and easier to audit. Such a move would be a worthy investment and would give confidence to stakeholders. 6|Page