UPND conquers 8 out of 9 wards in by-elections as ECZ condemns unruly carders
UPND conquers 8 out of 9 wards in by-elections as ECZ condemns unruly carders
THE United Party for National Development (UPND) has edged out other political parties in the just ended Local Government by-elections, held last Friday by winning eight out of the nine wards and only losing in Chirundu district.
According to the results released by the Electoral Commission of Zambia Corporate Affairs, Patricia Luhanga, UPND won the election in Nakonde, Kawambwa, Choma, Mufumbwe, Sikongo and Kanchibiya, while an Independent candidate got Chirundu’s Njame ward.
The overall results from the Eight wards scooped by the ruling party stands at 6,538 with the highest score from one candidate being 1,209 in Liumena ward of Sikongo district.
The Socialist party came second with 1, 285 votes, independent contestants got 915 votes , beating UPPZ which had 445 votes.
Leadership Movement got the fifth position with 375 votes while Harry Kalaba’s Citizens First took the sixth position with 296 votes. UNIP was ranked on the seventh position with 130 votes whilst the PF took the last position with only 61 votes.
President Hakainde Hichilema has however, commended the citizenry and participating political parties in the respective wards countrywide for ensuring that the by-elections were conducted peacefully.
Meanwhile, the ECZ has condemned cadres who misbehaved at some polling station by intimidating and threatening Election officers.
The Electoral body said erring parties will be summoned by the Commission.
ECZ Chief Electoral Officer, Brown Kasaro said serious incidents occurred at Machavika polling station where suspected carders used paper spray at Election officers at the polling station, bringing the result announcement process on hold.
It is reported that the cadres went away with two envelopes containing marked ballot papers luckily, the Presiding Officer had the completed results compilation forms which were later used to complete the process.
“And at Chilindi Primary School Polling Station cadres disrupted the compilation of poll results by going away with a Record of Proceedings at the Count. Fortunately, the Commission had a copy of the form,” Kasaro said.
He said that as a result of the violent disruption, the Commission was forced to suspend the proceedings at the Totaling Centre and all election materials were taken to Chirundu Police Station for safe custody.
“Further, in Sikongo District, another unfortunate incident occurred at Liumena Polling Station in Liumena Ward where some party officials and cadres stormed the Polling Station without accreditation,”Kasaro said.
“ The officials and cadres insulted, intimidated and harassed not only election officials but also police officers on duty,” he said.
Kasaro condemned the acts of violence, that were perpetuated to disrupt the electoral process, as they undermine the integrity of elections.
“The Commission wishes to assure stakeholders that it is fully committed to safeguarding the integrity of the electoral process. The Commission takes these incidences seriously and will summon all the parties that took part in the by-elections in the two wards,” said Kasaro.
“And for those who will be found connected to the offences, ECZ will deal with such individuals in accordance with the Electoral Code of Conduct and Electoral Process Act.”
By Buumba Mwitumwa
Kalemba July 14, 2024