this has to be done.24 Then ZEC may give further consideration to the matter or issue but ZEC makes the final decision on the report.25 The report must then be sent back to the President as soon as possible who is obliged to publish a proclamation in the Gazette within fourteen days of receiving the report declaring the names of relevant wards and constituencies, and their boundaries.26 Other than the timeframe for feedback by the President and parliament, there are no timelines for ZEC to complete the preliminary report. The absence of timelines is not peculiar to the Zimbabwean legal framework, but common in other countries. It would appear that the involvement of the executive and legislature in the formulation of the delimitation report is of no consequence as ZEC still has the final say. In fact the requirement that the report is presented, or laid before, these two arms of government just further lengthens the timeframe within which the report can be finalized, given that ZEC is not obliged to take into consideration their views or concerns. While this conforms to the principle of independence of ZEC, it creates unnecessary bureaucratic procedures. 4.1.3 Factors to be considered during delimitation process The Constitution further provides that the number of voters must be equal in every constituency as far as this is possible.27 However, while ZEC may depart from this requirement to a reasonable extent, no ward or constituency may have more or less registered voters than the 20 percent margin.28 Section 161(6) of the Constitution further provides guidance on factors that ZEC must take into consideration when conducting the delimitation process that include;  physical features  means of communication  geographical distribution of voters 24 Section 161(8) of the Constitution. Section 161(8) of the Constitution. 26 Section 161(11) of the Constitution. 27 Section 161(3) of the Constitution 28 Section 161(6)(f) of the Constitution. 25 11 | P a g e