PF-UPND intensify separate, disjointed campaigns

PF-UPND intensify separate, disjointed campaigns
By Mwala Kalaluka in Kaoma Central
Sun 25 July 2010, 04:00 CAT

PF - UPND co-spokesperson Given Lubinda and Charles Kakoma announced that the two parties would compete in the respective by-elections

THE Patriotic Front (PF) in Kaoma Central have complained to the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) over the appointment of a former district council chairman recently convicted of stealing Constituency Development Fund (CDF) as MMD campaign manager in the Longe Ward by-election.

And the Pact partners, UPND and PF, have intensified their separate and disjointed campaign program for their respective candidates in Kaoma’s Longe Ward by-election ahead of polling day on August 5, 2010.

The by-election in Kaoma Central’s Longe Ward was caused by the conviction, albeit suspended, of former Kaoma Council chairman and area MMD councilor Dick Kwanga after he and two others were found guilty in a case involving the diversion of CDF money for Kaoma Central.

Kaoma Central PF constituency chairman, Joster Manjolo said in an interview at Longe, about six kilometers outside Kaoma Boma, on Wednesday that it was surprising that Kwanga, a convict, was appointed as a campaign manager for the MMD candidate, Luneta Mbaka, in the by-election.

“The (former) MMD councilor Dick Kwanga was convicted to three years suspended sentence, now again they have chosen him to be the campaign manager for MMD,” Manjolo said. “He is saying that ‘I have never been convicted. I have just retired and so I have brought you the right candidate who you are supposed to elect now’.”

Manjolo, who is also the Kaoma PF political secretary, said the party had written a complaint letter to the ECZ through Kaoma council secretary Mbulo Seke, which was taken to his office on Monday.

“We have complained to ECZ that this one is convicted, how can they include him to be the campaign manager? But nothing has happened and we have just left it to the people.”

Kwanga was later seen driving along the Mongu-Lusaka road in a small black vehicle, which was carrying blurring loud speakers.

And Manjolo said the PF were not worried about the UPND’s insistence to contest in Longe Ward because the PF candidate, Wamunyima Kabanze, was a highly saleable one.

“Our friends, the UPND, are not campaigning. They don’t have any structures here. But they are trying to come up and base their campaigns here,” said Manjolo when asked whether they were campaigning together with the UPND. “At first we shared these wards. They took Mulwa Ward because in Luampa there is a member of parliament for UPND.

They got Mulwa Ward and us we got Longe Ward but when we came for filing of nominations…we got surprised that what we had discussed to share these wards had not been honoured because they decided to field a candidate in Longe Ward.”

The UPND are fielding Kaoma District party chairman George Mafuti, as its candidate in the Longe by-election.

“The UPND have said ‘we are going ahead. We can’t withdraw’. For us as PF we thought maybe we can share our votes and since the UPND are not here, so we are not worried and we are not disappointed because we have a potential candidate who is based here.

The UPND are trying to campaign where their candidate comes from in Kashamu and Kanaombe areas because they have found it difficult.”
Manjolo said the contest in Longe was between the PF and MMD.

Asked if they were on talking terms with the UPND following the candidate clash, Manjolo responded: “We are trying to talk to each other but when we come for the work of the campaign we are not together because they have also fielded a candidate. But our campaigns are clear. We are not quarreling with UPND. Our focus is to defeat MMD.”

Manjolo said it was wrong for the UPND to base their claim that Western Province belonged to them on the situation that obtained during the late Anderson Mazoka era.