KAWAMBWA BY-ELECTION STOLEN BY UPND
….it was not free and fair – it was a sham of a by-election, says Socialist Party
Kawambwa… Monday October 28, 2024
The Socialist Party (SP) says yesterday’s Kawambwa Council Chairperson by-election was stolen by the UPND leadership.
The opposition political party has accused the UPND of perfecting its rigging scheme for future by-elections including at parliamentary level.
SP Secretary for Mobilization Kelvin Kaunda said clearly, the election has been stolen.
“The UPND is perfecting its rigging scheme that is why they opted to hold the Kawambwa Council Chairperson by-election within seven days. The filling in of nominations was on a Saturday while voting was on a Sunday, this has never happened in the history of the country,” he said.
“They are trying to master the art that they have to use to manipulate future elections even at Parliamentary level as they trigger the by-elections. They want to know which system works and which one will give them an advantage.
He thanked the Kawambwa Central PF Member of Parliament Hon Nickson Chilangwa and his Pambashe counterpart Hon Ronald Chitotela for the support they rendered as they wanted the will of the people to reflect through the ballot.
“As SP, we want to thank the Pambashe PF MP Hon Ronald Chitotela and his Kawambwa Central counterpart Hon Nickson Chilangwa, the brothers to Hon Chitotela, former Kawambwa Council Chairperson Kalumba Chifumbe and Davy Kaniki for their support despite being in incarceration,” he continued.
“This is the by-election caused by the UPND with the intention of stealing the seat from the people of Kawambwa. It is the first time in the history of this country that an election has been called and period to campaign and vote is within a week. How can you have a bigger election such as Council Chairperson election being called within a week? And you have nominations taking place on a Sabbath and the election date on Sunday? This is how this leadership is so disrespectful towards the Church. If we had leaders who fear the Lord, there is no way they can call for nominations on a Sabbath and voting on a Sunday.”
Meanwhile, the SP candidate Ivo Mpasa said the by-election is not a true reflection of the will of the people of Kawambwa.
“This is an experience for me given the time we were given to campaign. You remember the vacancy was announced on a Thursday and we were told to file in on Saturday. Friday was a holiday because it was a day of National Day of Prayer and Fasting. There is no way someone can rush to Mansa to have the documents verified. But thank God, all my documents were ready before that time,” he indicated.
“I am thankful to Dr. Fred M’membe and the entire SP leadership for according me an opportunity to participate in the by-election. I must also mention here that the entire government machinery was here, most of the cabinet ministers were here for a period of one week. If we didn’t participate and allow them to conduct the elections as they designed to go unopposed, it was going to be worse for the people.”