Maravi

Mwata dictates polling agents as BY ‘campaigns' in Congo DR

Mwata dictates polling agents as BY ‘campaigns' in Congo DR
By Patson Chilemba
Fri 09 Sep. 2011, 14:01 CAT

MWATA Kazembe of the Lunda people of Luapula Province on Tuesday summoned electoral officers in Kawambwa district to his palace and submitted 19 names of people he has chosen to be polling assistants in this year's election.

Well-placed sources within the royal foundation disclosed that Mwata Kazembe (right) was doing everything possible to ensure an MMD victory because he did not want to be embarrassed for imposing Dr Chriticles Mwansa as parliamentary candidate in Mwansabombwe.

"He called the returning officer for Kawambwa Mr Mupesha and also Mr Mpundu who is the chairperson of the selecting committee for polling assistants. He also called Mable Shaw High school headteacher Mr Zyambo, who is also the vice-chairperson of the select committee and gave them 19 names of people to be polling agents or polling assistants," the source said.

"He called them on Tuesday, around 19.00 hours. Among those included on the list are Amos Kombe, Musa Kabeya, who is also his Mwata's nephew and assistant campaign manager for the MMD in the area, and he is the one who has been going to Radio Kashobwe in Congo to speak on MMD campaigns. Matildah Chibwe, who is his representative's daughter, Mutiti, has also been picked to assist with the voting since most of the people here are illiterate."

The sources said the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) and the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) should do something about the matter because Mupesha and Zyambo were known to have close ties with Mwata Kazembe.

Attempts to reach Mwata Kazembe for a comment failed as his mobile phone went unanswered.

The sources further said that Nchelenge MMD parliamentary candidate Ben Mwila on Tuesday sailed into Kashobwe, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), using a boat from the Fisheries Department.

The sources said Mwila used Chipita harbour to get into the DRC.

"He went there with bails of MMD chitenge, a megaphone, a ream of stickers, CD loader and other campaign materials in Congo. Now we are wondering if we have voters in Congo also. The one who took him to Congo is a Fisheries Officer, Chama," said the sources.

Labels: BEN MWILA, CHRITICLES MWANSA, DRC, MWATA KAZAMBE

posted by MrK @ 3:01 PM