UPND’S NJENJE CHIZU URGES FELLOW NORTHERN PROVINCE LOSING CANDIDATES TO PETITION ELECTION RESULTS
By Jessie Kalambo
UPND’s losing parliamentary candidate for Mpulungu South in the recently held general election, Njenje Chizu, has urged other losing parliamentary candidates in Northern Province to petition the August 13 election results.
Mr Chizu alleges that illegal means were used to prevent candidates connected to President Hakainde Hichilema and the ruling UPND from winning.
He further alleges that his life was in danger during the election and that he was the only candidate who could not access the totaling center after being warned that he would not come back alive.
Mr Chizu told KBN TV News that he went into hiding but continued gathering evidence which he intends to present before the courts.
He says once the court process begins, Zambians will know what transpired in Mpulungu South and across the entire Northern Block.
The Mpulungu South parliamentary seat was won by opposition NRPUP candidate Teddy Chama who polled 5,293 votes, followed by Independent candidate and former MP Leonard Mbao with 4,570 votes while Mr Chizu came third with 4,299 votes.
Mr Chizu also claims that people in Mpulungu South are still distressed over the election outcome and that it was constituents who urged him to challenge the results, citing alleged irregularities.
He says he had to relocate some Mpulungu South constituents to Lusaka to help them cope, noting that they remained distressed by events that unfolded during the election
The losing candidate has appealed to the people of Mpulungu South to remain calm and not feel like orphans as they await the court’s determination.
Meanwhile, political activist Kenneth Chitupa has condemned Mr Chizu’s call for other candidates to petition, saying elections in several constituencies across Northern Province went well.
Mr Chitupa says several other parliamentary candidates and councilors contested in the same province and have not raised similar complaints.
He says the Mpulungu South petition will only matter if Mr Chizu has indisputable evidence, arguing that without credible proof, the petition is unnecessary.