LUSAKA,  (Xinhua) — Zambians will go to a constitutional referendum next year on a decision to qualify the winner of the presidential elections in the southern African country, local media reported on Wednesday.

The country put the issue to the referendum after the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) delegates failed to attain two thirds of vote to enshrine the 50 percent plus one threshold for the polls in the Constitution. The NCC delegates on Tuesday voted to determine a final position on the proposed 50 percent plus one clause in the next Constitution for a presidential candidate to win an election.

Out of 446 NCC delegates, 260 NCC delegates voted in favor of the 50 percent plus one threshold, while 184 delegates against. Four votes were rejected, according to the Zambian News and Information Service (ZANIS).

ZANIS said the NCC should have attained at least 297 votes for a two third majority. NCC Chairperson Chifumu Banda said the outcome of the vote meant that Zambia would go for a referendum to determine what would put in the next Constitution in relation to what type of presidential election system to be adopted.

“The two thirds threshold has not been attained. Therefore Zambia goes to a referendum next year,” Banda announced. From its independence in 1964 to 1991, Zambia used a First Past the Post system of electing a president. In 1991, the system was changed to 50 percent plus one vote threshold, which was, however, changed again in 1996 to revert to the old system.