ECZ Confirms 70 New Constituencies Take Effect in May 2026

Zambia's Electoral Commission (ECZ) has confirmed that 70 newly created constituencies will come into effect on May 15, 2026, coinciding with the next dissolution of Parliament.

ECZ Chairperson Mwangala Zaloumis said the commission is working to ensure all necessary preparations are in place ahead of that date. Speaking during delimitation sittings in Kabwe, she explained that the expansion reflects Zambia's population growth, shifting demographics, and the need for stronger parliamentary representation across the country.

Ms. Zaloumis stressed, however, that the final allocation of the 70 constituencies will only be confirmed once the ongoing public consultation process has been completed. The Central Province sittings form part of a wider national delimitation exercise designed to give citizens a voice in how boundaries are drawn.

The addition of 70 seats represents a significant expansion of Zambia's parliamentary architecture and is expected to bring representation closer to communities that have historically been underserved. With the 2026 general election approaching, the timely conclusion of the delimitation process will be critical to ensuring that voters, candidates, and political parties can plan accordingly.

The ECZ has urged stakeholders to engage constructively with the consultation process, underscoring that the final constituency map will reflect the submissions received from communities across all provinces. Further updates are expected as the commission progresses through its regional sittings in the coming weeks.