Maravi

UPND wins Lubanda ward local govt by-election

UPND wins Lubanda ward local govt by-election
Written by Frederick Mwansa and Christopher Miti
Saturday, October 17, 2009 12:42:56 AM

OPPOSITION UPND has scooped the Lubanda ward local government by-elections. And the ruling MMD has scooped the Chikowa ward by-election in Malambo Constituency.
Local pastoral farmer Harrison Kamano won the seat after getting 491 votes under the UPND-PF pact ticket.

MMD candidate Bettis Mambonwa managed to get just over 240 votes as a closest rival, while UNIP got 48.

The Lubanda ward seat fell vacant following the incarceration of former UPND councillor Harry Namaluba for participating in unlawful assembly at which he incited people to dethrone chief Shimbizhi.

And Eastern Province electoral officer Alex Bwalya said MMD candidate Bartholomew Mbewe got 267 votes, UNIP's Adrian Kaleya got 204 and PF candidate Evans Phiri got 137 votes.

Returning officer John Mwanza who announced the results declared MMD's Mbewe as a duly elected councillor for Chikowa ward.

Mwanza said of the 1, 099 votes cast, three were rejected while one was disputed.

The seat fell vacant after the death of MMD's Maximina Kamlewe.

Most political parties who participated in the election described the election as free and fair.

Labels: BY-ELECTIONS, UPND

posted by MrK @ 11:43 PM