Political parties to name their adopted candidates today for the August 19 by-election

THE Ruling Patriotic Front (PF), United Party for National Development (UPND) and MMD will today announce their adopted candidates for the Mangango Constituency by election slated for August 19, this year.

The three political parties said in separate interviews yesterday that they were in their final stages of consultations among senior party officials before announcing the adopted candidates.

PF Secretary General Wynter Kabimba said in an interview yesterday that the party had completed the adoption process and was only waiting for approval.

“We shall announce the adopted PF candidate tomorrow (today), the process has already been completed except for minor concerns but will not derail the announcement,” Mr Kabimba said.

MMD deputy national secretary, Chembe Nyangu said the Provincial officials had finished the process and sent the adoption papers to Lusaka for finals perusal.

“We want to wait for the papers to arrive here, they are coming by bus as they were sent yesterday before announcing, we shall actually rely on the recommendations by the Provincial officials,” Mr Nyangu said.

UPND deputy spokesperson, Edwin Lifwekelo said his party’s national management committee would hold a meeting today to ratify the name of the preferred candidate as per procedure before officially announcing the candidate.

He said the said candidate was a strong contender who would give other candidates a tough time during campaigns because he was a well known person in Mangango and was hard working.

“This candidate is subject to ratification by the party’s national management committee, we already have one but the due process had to be followed before the name is officially announced,” Mr Lifwekelo said.

The by- election was necessitated after the nullification of the election of MMD’s Robert Taundi Chiseke by the Supreme Court on May 19, 2014 on grounds that his election was fraught with electoral malpractices.

PF losing candidate Richard Simbula had petitioned the election of Mr Chiseke alleging illegal and corrupt practices.

The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has since set Tuesday, August 19, 2014, as the date on which parliamentary by- election for Mangango constituency in Western province would be held.

Before the nullification of his seat, Mr Chiseke served as Deputy Minister for Commerce, Trade and Industry.

Aspiring candidates wishing to contest the by-elections are expected to file in their nomination papers tomorrow on July 10, 2014.

The campaign period would commence from July 10 after the nominations and end on Monday August 18, 2014 at 18:00 hours.