the migration patterns between 2008 and 2018. The current verification process will assist in mapping out more accurate boundaries ahead of the 2018 elections. However, there are also weaknesses with carrying out delimitation before 2018.The population census data will be outdated given that the last census was carried out in 2012. 6 years between the census and the delimitation exercise is a long period and that data may not be reliable anymore. It is highly unlikely that the delimitation process will be completed in time for the report and maps to be adopted for use in the 2018 elections, as the delimitation process must be completed six months before any election. Another challenge will be availability of the new maps and boundaries to all stakeholders including civil society organisations in time for adequate voter education. The next census is only due in 2022 according to the Census and Statistics Act.2 Any delimitation exercise that is carried out before the next census will lead to all other processes relying on census reports that will be more than four years old unless the census and delimitation timelines are harmonised. This can only be achieved through harmonisation of the Census and Statistic Act to the Constitution, or through a Constitutional Amendment, possibly reducing the timeline for delimitation from 10 to 5 years to synchronise delimitation and with future census exercises. The second school3 of thought proposes that delimitation should only take place in preparation for the 2023 elections. This is based on the view that since the Constitution is silent on the commencement of the 10-year duration, 2023 is the correct date for the next delimitation exercises that being 10 years after the adoption of the new Constitution in 2013. The advantage of having 2023 as the date for the next delimitation exercise is that it will 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. Furthermore, while there is some merit in that view, the costs of not having a delimitation exercise before the 2018 elections seem to outweigh the benefits of waiting for 2023.The 2 [Chapter 10:29] Section 12(1) provides that census is only conducted every ten years. http://www.zesn.org.zw/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/DELIMITATION-OF-BOUNDARIES-IN-ZIMBABWE-IN2022.pdf 3 3|Page