4.3 Administrative issues relating to delimitation The Constitution gives ZEC the discretion of determining the techniques it can use when delimiting boundaries. In practice this can be manual or computerised - with geographic information systems (GIS) software being used. When delimitation is computer based, the process and is more accurate and efficient. In countries where digital technology is used, it has been hailed as assisting in fast map production through a simple process of a single computer command and this allows for consideration of a wider range of district plan options. It also permits interested parties, both inside and outside of the process, to evaluate the redistricting plans more easily and more thoroughly. Zimbabwe has some of its maps digitized, as can be found on Google maps. Computer-assisted delimitation can be worth investing in as this will instill confidence of stakeholders in the process. ZEC also decides on the voting areas within the delimited boundaries. These must ordinarily enable voters to travel as conveniently and safely as possible to a polling site to cast their ballots. There is a need for this to be taken into account during the next delimitation exercise. 5. Political context impacting on delimitation Since the 2000 elections, political developments have influenced a number of factors that impact on delimitation of constituencies and influence adherence to the five universal principles on boundary review and design. Due to problems of bad governance, there has been continued economic decline that has led to rural and urban migration. It is also highly likely that the 2015 Supreme Court decision that upheld the right of employers to terminate employment on three months’ notice led to unprecedented levels of urban to rural migration as thousands of employees were dismissed on three months’ notice. An estimated 15 000 people were affected by this decision. Economic migration has been very common since 2000. Political violence erupting after elections has also led to migration of communities from rural to urban areas. These internal displacements have also at times been spearheaded by state actors, as was the case with Operation Murambatsvina, which to some was targeted at perceived MDC supporters who had voted in their members of parliament in urban areas. 15 | P a g e