Maravi

PF-UPND pact describes Chitambo poll as ‘unfair’

COMMENT - I wonder whether this kind of corruption and violence will be roundly condemned internationally, the way anything going on in Zimbabwe was condemned when UK/US access to Zimbabwe's land and mines was at stake.

PF-UPND pact describes Chitambo poll as ‘unfair’
Written by Margaret Habbuno in Lusaka and Simon Mutuna in Mansa
Tuesday, August 18, 2009 2:55:32 PM

THE UPND-PF pact has said the recent Chitambo parliamentary by-election was characterised by corruption and violence. At a press briefing yesterday, PF spokesperson Given Lubinda said the malpractices led to an atmosphere that was not conducive for free and fair elections.

"The MMD was freely dishing out food and cash to people while beating up opposition supporters. The MMD was using unregistered vehicles with no number plates for the purpose of rigging while the Vice-President openly intimated civil servants especially teachers," Lubinda said.

He said on election day, the MMD were openly ferrying voters to polling stations in total disregard of election regulations.

"The MMD therefore won the Chitambo by-election corruptly and fraudulently. If the MMD had morals, they should feel ashamed of winning the Chitambo seat instead of boasting about their victory, " he said.

Lubinda said the recent presidential by-election had shown that the Zambian people had rejected the ruling MMD throughout the country.

"George Kunda is saying that the pact is useless and yet he was busy in Chitambo, he was busy spending more than K6 billion moving around with a chopper because they know that their time to pack their bags has come. The pact will have the last laugh in 2011," Lubinda said.

And UPND spokesperson Charles Kakoma said an examination of the results of the by-election revealed that the MMD terribly lost the local government polls in Lusaka.

"The result of the Chitambo by-election is a clear testimony of the fact that the people of Zambia have welcomed the formation of the UPND-PF pact. The MMD lost in 16 out of 21 local government by-elections throughout the country. In other words the UPND-PF obtained 73 per cent of the seats while the MMD got 27 per cent only," Kakoma said.

He said even if there was a precedent that had been set, the MMD would not win the 2011 elections because the Zambian people had seen what had been exhibited in the just-ended elections.

"We appeal to the members of the public to vote for the pact in 2011.We have not written any formal letter to the Electoral Commission of Zambia because nothing is going to happen. We have taken such cases to our courts of law but no action has ever been taken. We do not want to waste the public's time," Kakoma said.

Meanwhile, the UPND and PF pact scooped the two local government by-elections in Mansa.

In Chilyapa ward, Fabian Chibela of the PF got 746 votes, MMD's Syden Chama polled 355 votes while UNIP's Musonda polled 57 votes.

For Muchinka ward, the PF candidate Stephen Chenda polled 594 votes, MMD got 204 while the UNIP candidate polled 49 votes.

The returning officer Christopher Mumba announced the results and noted that there was voter apathy during the elections.

Provincial PF chairman Lasford Mwale commended the electorate and officers for the peaceful way in which the elections were conducted and congratulated the new councillors.

Some Mansa residents urged the government through the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to start the registration of voters in Luapula Province.

Labels: BY-ELECTIONS, GIVEN LUBINDA, PF-UPND

posted by MrK @ 1:56 PM