“I’M THE ONLY ONE THAT WILL FIGHT MP ANTHONY KASANDWE”, SAMFYA DC PROCLAIMS
“I’M THE ONLY ONE THAT WILL FIGHT MP ANTHONY KASANDWE”, SAMFYA DC PROCLAIMS
Samfya DC disrupts UPND meeting
By Oliver Chisenga
THERE was drama in Samfya last Friday when district commissioner Keith Kayula attempted to disrupt a constituency executive meeting.
Executive members who convened at Samfya Youth Resource Centre were scheduled to discuss various issues affecting the UPND in the district and 2026 parliamentary candidate options for Bangweulu Constituency.
According to a constituency official who did not want to be identified, Kayula is interested in standing as the UPND’s candidate for the seat and is not happy with those who have already declared their intentions.
The seat is currently occupied by Anthony Kasandwe of the opposition Patriotic Front.
The source said a visibly annoyed Kayula stormed the meeting and threatened members not to support any candidate apart from himself.
Other sources within the executive also revealed that members have been complaining about the district commissioner’s continued threats and intimidation.
“[Kayula] has positioned himself to stand as UPND MP for Bangweulu Constituency in 2026, so each time he hears that the executive is meeting to discuss party matters, he feels agitated. He has been abusing his position to fight potential aspiring UPND MPs who are mobilising the party in the Constituency,” the source explained.“Members of the executive are now calling upon the relevant authorities to tame the District Commissioner before he destroys the party in the district. This man does not mean well because he is self-centred; he wants everything to be centred around him and his ambition to be the next member of parliament. The faster he is reprimanded, the better.”
But when contacted for comment, Kayula denied claims that he wanted to become member of parliament, saying his role was to promote the policies and programmes of the UPND government.
He urged aspirants not to feel threatened when they hear of his meetings with the people of Bangweulu Constituency.
“We currently have about 10 aspiring candidates in Bangweulu Constituency… Those who want to stand and be the people’s representatives should not fear or worry when they hear that I have had meetings with the people. They need to know the role of a DC. My role is not to sit in my office but to go out there and explain to the people how to access CDF and issues regarding cooperatives. I have no intentions to stand,” said Kayula.