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(LUSAKATIMES) PF to petition Mpulungu by-election results

PF to petition Mpulungu by-election results
By LusakaTimes
Wednesday, October 27, 2010, 7:09

PATRIOTIC Front (PF) president Michael Sata has accused the ruling MMD of producing about 500 votes from “imaginary” polling station in order to win Monday’s parliamentary by-election in Mpulungu.

The opposition PF lost the closely contested seat through its candidate Freedom Sikazwe who polled 4,419 votes against the winning MMD candidate Given Mung’omba who got 5003 votes.

Mr Sata has told journalists that his party was not accepting the results and would petition Mr Mung’omba’s victory through the courts of law.

“We are not conceding defeat, the constitution allows us to recount the votes if we are not satisfied but the ECZ refused, so we will petition the results,” he said.
Mr. Sata charged that the ruling party produced 9 ballot boxes from without after all the 60 polling stations had already been counted.

He further accused the party of distributing money and foodstuffs to the electorates prior to voting.

“The MMD produced nine imaginary ballot boxes from nine imaginary polling stations, they stole our votes and that is why we will petition,” Mr Sata said.

And MMD chairman for elections, Mike Mulongoti urged the PF leader to mourn the defeat in Mpulungu with dignity.

“The constitution allows them to petition if they are not satisfied with the results but petitioning does not mean that they won the election. Also I would like to advise the PF to mourn the loss in Mpulungu with dignity,” Mr Mulongoti said.

Others contestants in the Mpulungu race were NAREP with 331, UNIP 112 and ADD with 62 votes.

Labels: BY-ELECTIONS, MPULUNGU, PF

posted by MrK @ 2:39 PM