Maravi

PF scoops Kanyama by-election

PF scoops Kanyama by-election
By Lambwe Kachali, Patson Chilemba and Collins Chali
Friday February 22, 2008 [11:00]

Hichilema is politically melting like President Levy Mwanawasa for being ejected by the people of Kanyama despite carrying out vigorous campaigns in the area, Patriotic Front (PF) president Michael Sata has said. And opposition UPND president Hakainde Hichilema said his party would conduct a postmortem over the loss of their candidate Harrison Mukupa.

All People's Congress Party (APC) president Ken Ngondo said he has not fractured his presidential ambitions because people of Kanyama considered him a stranger.

Meanwhile, newly elected Kanyama member of parliament Colonel Gerry Chanda has charged that MMD is liability and will never win a parliamentary seat in Lusaka,

Earlier in an interview, Hichilema attributed the loss of Mukupa to violence that was being perpetrated by MMD cadres.

Hichilema said a team would soon be formed to conduct a postmortem why UPND lost to PF.

He said he did not believe that PF candidate could defeat Mukupa, taking into account the popularity and support he was enjoying from Kanyama residents.

“I think for now I will not say much until a postmortem is carried out. But I can assure Kanyama people that we are not bitter about their choice. We will soon look at issues like violence and voter apathy because there is no way out of 80, 000 people in Kanyama, only 15, 000 can vote. There is something wrong and we are going to work in those areas so that similar situation does not happen again,” said Hichilema.

But Sata said there was no way Hichilema could be surprised at PF’s victory because even in Nchanga by-elections UPND lost terribly.

Sata said UPND and MMD could not match PF’s support and popularity.

He said there was no different between UPND and MMD in terms of political muscle.

“It is the people of Zambia who choose which party and person to vote for. Hichilema is melting just like Levy Mwanawasa because these two people have no focus and can take Zambia nowhere. Levy has also been sickened by our victory and I am sure he will be sent to London for medical treatment soon,” he said.

Sata said it was undisputable that people of Kanyama did not want President Mwanawasa despite using national resources in the campaigns.

He said President Mwanawasa took advantage of the floods situation in Kanyama and sent graders to rehabilitate drainages but all went in vain.

“I have said many times that Levy and his MMD is a failure. It is just a matter of time before MMD is buried for good,” said Sata.

And Ngondo said his intention to contest the by-elections was an eye-opener for effective representation.

Ngondo said he was not embarrassed that he had lost the seat to a person younger than him.

He said he was now focusing on 2011 general elections where he said victory was eminent.

"All I can say is that citizens should learn to vote for people like me who can deliver. They shouldn't look at faces and rhetoric convincing language but the ability to deliver effectively," Ngondo said.

He said urban poverty had also contributed to his loss because the electorate were more interested in money than service.

MMD losing candidate Mwalimu Simfukwe said he would go back to his usual consultancy business and would continue to support President Mwanawasa and the party.

Simfukwe said it was sad that people of Kanyama had rejected his services.

He alleged that PF would not deliver as he could have done if he was elected.

Simfukwe said the reason why opposition members of parliament failed to deliver was because they were more interested in criticizing the government at the expense of national development.

"I thank President Mwanawasa and the party officials for giving a chance to contest that seat. I offered myself to Kanyama people but have rejected me. I am a humble person but I will continue to respect their decisions," said Simfukwe.

And Chanda said President Levy Mwanawasa should be ashamed of himself for the violence and attacks his cadres have had on innocent opposition leaders.

Kanyama constituency on Thursday became a hive of activities as residents turned out to choose their member of parliament.

Cadres from all political parties that participated in the by-elections gathered at various polling stations to witness the counting.

When some polling stations finished counting, they immediately started ferrying the ballot boxes to Chibolya Basic School where the announcement of results took place.

At new Kanyama Basic School, a fracas occurred between MMD cadres and the opposition after PF observers spotted an unknown lady attempting to carry the ballot box using a vehicle which did not belong to the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ).

The situation angered PF cadres who almost undressed the lady before the police rescued her.

The lady whose name was withheld was rushed to Lusaka’s central police for further interrogation.

At this time UPND Siavonga member of parliament Douglas Syakalima shouted at one of the police officers who mistook him for a cadre thinking that he was among those threatening violence.

Syakalima dragged the policeman aside and told him that he was foolish and should stop behaving like a mad person.

Syakalima also lashed at some electoral officers, and said that ECZ had failed to uphold the principles of fair and free elections in the country.

And when the results started coming out around 23:30 hours and indicated that Simfukwe was leading, there was jubilation among MMD cadres.

The lead by Simfukwe cheered some notable MMD officials among them MMD chairperson for lands Judith Kapijimpanga and women affairs chairperson Rose Zimba. Kapijimpanga was full of praises for Simfukwe whom she referred to as honourable.

“Honourable Simfukwe come and sit here. Thank you so much and we are proud of you as our member parliament for this constituency,” said Kapijimpanga and Zimba with smiles.

But as PF started to lead the race, confusion erupted as MMD cadres threatened to sort out PF members who were celebrating. But police officers moved in quickly and contained the situation.

When the counting of votes finished, PF got 3834 votes seconded by Simfukwe with 3393 votes while Mukupa came third with 2807 votes. United Liberal Party (ULP)’s Elizabeth Phiri got 535, UNIP’s Hasty Mwachilele scored 373, APC’s Ngondo got 128, FDD candidate David Kasanga got 122 while New Generation party (NGP) candidate Chushi Mwewa trailed last with only 32 votes.

Kanyama constituency returning officer Morgan Kasela declared Col Chanda as duly elected area member of parliament.

“I do hereby as that in accordance with the law ascertained the results of the poll in the said constituency and so I being the returning officer for the parliamentary elections of 21 February 2008 hereby declare on this day 22 February 2008 Col Gerry Chanda as duly elected member of parliament for Kanyama constituency. 178 votes have been rejected while 12552 votes were cast,” said Kasela.

And commenting on his victory, Col Chanda said Kanyama would be his bedroom.

He said he wanted to prove to the Zambian people that MMD had collapsed both in Lusaka and across the country.

Col Chanda said despite the violence MMD had perpetrated during the campaigns, PF had proved that it was the only party worthy to the Zambian people.

“Zambia is for us all. We have taught President Mwanawasa and his violent cadres a big lesson. Levy should be embarrassed and I think he should be reminded that come 2011 President Sata will lead this nation without fail,” said Col Chanda.

Labels: BY-ELECTIONS, HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, PF, SATA

posted by MrK @ 6:34 PM