CHAOS IN MATERO AS NRPUP DISPUTES PARLIAMENTARY RESULTS, THREATENS PETITION.
Chaos has characterized the electoral process in Matero Constituency, with a dispute erupting over the parliamentary results.
The seemingly losing UPND candidate, Alex Sakala, has in a turn of events taken the lead from NRPUP candidate Patrick Mwamba Salubusa, who had earlier recorded a significant lead in the constituency’s overall results and celebrated victory.
NRPUP Matero Constituency election agents, led by Lot Siame, have disputed the results from the totaling centre at Matero Boys Secondary School.
The team alleges that the figures announced at the totaling centre differ from and have been inflated compared to the results recorded at polling stations and captured on General Form 20, commonly known as Gen20.
As of Sunday midnight, the Matero Constituency Returning Officer had not yet declared the duly elected parliamentary candidate.
This is despite UPND candidate Alex Sakala having conceded defeat on Friday through a post on his official Facebook page.
The UPND official media page also published the party’s Lusaka parliamentary wins, listing Roma, Munali, Kanyama and Makani, while acknowledging defeats in Matero, Mandevu and Lima, as well as the loss of the Lusaka mayoral seat.
NRPUP has now vowed to petition the results should the Electoral Commission of Zambia declare Mr. Sakala as Matero MP-elect.
The party alleges that some Gen20 forms were filled in at the totaling centre and were not signed by all participating political parties and accredited electoral stakeholders.
The dispute has left the Matero parliamentary race unresolved, with all eyes now on the Electoral Commission of Zambia and the final declaration of the results.
By Joseph Tamali Banda
Ptv2