Pact resolve to field one candidate in Mpulungu polls

Pact resolve to field one candidate in Mpulungu polls
By Kombe Chimpinde
Tue 14 Sep. 2010, 20:40 CAT

THE PF–UPND Pact have agreed to field a single candidate under the PF ticket in the Mpulungu by-elections both parties have confirmed. PF general secretary Wynter Kabimba said the decision was arrived after looking at the votes that PF polled in the that area in the 2008 elections.

“We can’t say Mpulungu is not a stronghold for PF. We agreed after looking at the figures that each party got in that area during in the 2008 presidential elections and it is based on those figures that the decision was taken,” Kabimba explained.

“We hope that we don’t experience the confusion that was experienced during mayor elections where members of both parties decided to contest against each other after an agreement that the PF vies for the position of mayor and the UPND vies for the position of deputy mayor.”

The Pact has faced numerous challenges in adopting candidates to stand on various positions during national elections as witnessed in the Chadiza and Kaoma local government by-elections as well as the recent mayoral elections.

On the Chilanga seat which fell vacant after the expulsion of MMD member of parliament Nagndu Magande, Kabimba said that the two parties were yet to discuss who would contest.

“Right now the PF has advertised the position and I can tell you that a total of seven applications from members of the party who want to be adopted have been received. But we are yet to discuss the seat with the UPND leadership,” he disclosed

And UPND spokesperson Charles Kakoma also confirmed that his party had agreed to back the PF in Mpulungu in accordance with the agreement entered into when the two parties went into a Pact.

Meanwhile both Kabimba and Kakoma both also confirmed that the Pact was making new guidelines to resolve future impasse in fielding candidates .

Kakoma who admitted failure for the two parties to coordinate the recently held elections said the new guidelines would among other things include sanctions that shall be imposed by those that defy them.

“In the mayoral elections the Pact decided to field a PF candidate for the position of mayor and the UPND the position of vice mayor but we had more than one candidate from each party contesting the election,” he explained.

“So probably people decided to exercise their democratic right. But there will be sanctions for those who defy the agreements.”

Kakoma admitted that it was obvious that there may be hiccups when two political parties came together but this did not mean failure.

“We don't expect everyone to agree with what is going on in the alliance. It is for this reason that in the spirit of commitment towards the Pact, we have a joint committee on elections currently sitting to come with new and fresh guidelines which will be used when fielding candidates to stand on either party,” he explained.

The Electoral Commission of Zambia has set October 28 as polling day in the Mpulungu by-election .

The seat fell vacant after the death of its member of parliament Lameck Chibombamilimo after suffering from renal failure.