Maravi

12 from PF-UPND eye Kasama set

12 from PF-UPND eye Kasama set
Written by Mwila Chansa in Kitwe
Wednesday, September 09, 2009 6:10:49 PM

TWELVE people, including Lusaka businessman Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba popularly known as GBM, have expressed interest in contesting the Kasama central parliamentary by-election under the PF-UPND ticket. PF Northern Province second chairman Jim Sinyinza confirmed the development in an interview yesterday.

Sinyinza said the constituency, district and provincial committees had already done their part and forwarded the names to the party's central committee that was expected to make a decision by the end of this week.

Asked on fears by some party members in the district that the party might lose the election if it adopted an outsider, Sinyinza said the decision of the grassroots would be respected.

"In politics there is a lot of talk. An individual might come to the media to speak about certain issues but maybe that individual may just be speaking on their own and not on behalf of the majority," he said.

Sinyinza insisted that the final decision on who would eventually be adopted would be made by the central committee. Sinyinza said it would be wrong to perceive any PF member as an outsider because people had their routes.

"For example, I am a Kasama person but I am not originally from here," he said.

And Sinyinza said the PF-UPND's chances of retaining the Kasama central seat were high.

He said the parties were aware that the ruling MMD would pump in a lot of money to buy votes but that they would work hard to ensure that the seat was retained.

Other prominent people eyeing the seat include Northern Province chairman Frederick Chisanga who has since taken leave because of his interest in the seat.

The Kasama central by-election came in the wake of the resignation of former PF member of parliament Saviour Chishimba.

And five candidates have successfully filed in their applications to stand on the MMD ticket in the Kasama Central by-election.

The five are MMD Kasama district chairlady Brillian Sefuke, Kasama Central constituency chairman Nathan Ilunga, MMD member Bernard Mpundu, two businessmen Francis Mubanga Mwamba and Cosmas Chilongo respectively.

MMD district chairman David Chanda confirmed the names of the successful applicants in an interview yesterday.

Chanda announced the five applicants would be interviewed by party officials from Kasama central constituency today.

The election will take place on October 15.

Labels: GBM, GEOFFREY MWAMBA, KASAMA, PF-UPND

posted by MrK @ 5:13 PM