The United Party for National Development (UPND) has slashed the nomination fees for people wanting to stand on the party ticket after criticism from the section of the society that the party had the highest nomination fees in the country.
The fees reduction include Councillors (rural) K50 from initial K300, Councillors (urban)-K150 from initial K300, Council Chairpersons (rural)-K1, 000 from the initial K2, 000 and Council Chairpersons (urban)-K1, 500 from initial K5, 000.
However, the party said that the fee for MPS will remain pegged at K 5 000, and through its deputy secretary general for Political Affairs, said that those who paid the initial fees prior to the downward adjustments would be refunded.
Meanwhile, UPND Secretary General, Batuke Imenda has assured youths in Zambia of a better life under President Hakainde Hichilema’s leadership.
And Mr Imenda says the Party is aware of issues affecting Zambians especially youths who despite having skills and education attained have been left on the streets without jobs.
Speaking during the press briefing held at the party Secretariat yesterday morning, Mr Imenda said testimonies by youths and retirees are real and need a government that has the interest of people at heart .
” President Hakainde Hichilema’s experience in politics has revealed his dream and vision to serve the people of Zambia and protect the country’s economy from total collapse.
Mr Imenda, after welcoming ambassadors of change expressed sadness that the hard economic tide in the country has forced majority of youths to abuse of alcohol and drugs.
He told the youths that President Hichilema did a lot as a youth because government at that time facilitated and created a conducive environment for him to develop his career.
” He feels indebted to the people of Zambia and therefore wants the youths to have the same opportunity he had when he gets into office.” said Mr Imenda.
He assured the youths that hope and help was on the way and that President Hichilema was more than ready to deliver the country from suffering and misery.
“To the youths, don’t despair because Bally, our Moses, is coming to give you quality education and health care. Those with skills will venture into entrepreneurship while graduates will have jobs after their training,” he said.
Mr Imenda, also accused the Examinations Council of Zambia (ECZ) of deliberately frustrating aspirants who have been made to spend days on the queue at the ECZ offices.
True as youths we are suffering from unemployment so 12 August is a special day
Speaks volumes. No one was turning up for nominations. Free would have sounded fair. Separate public service from business.
But it is still of no consequence.
Zambians already know that it’s PF 100%, ECL 100%, Elite Zambians 100%, Zambia overdrive 100%, Citizens’ Empowerment 100%, Hard Work 100%.
Although the reduction in fees is welcome the UPND must deal with the bigger evil of intra UPND corruption and I know for certain that Munji Habenzu was a victim in the last adoption process because he refused to succumb to Party officials in Chikankata’s demand for K40,000. Corruption in UPND strongholds is very rife. While they’re quick to accuse PF of corruption the UPND aren’t different and that’s an indication of what we’ll endure should Kadansa win the next election. This is why we say the UPND isn’t an alternative, however, should the PF fail to come up with a more sellable candidate the ECL2021 then we have no choice but to kick them out
UPND just uses youths for political violence and votes then discards them. How many youths are in their NMC. Bill 10 wanted to make it law to have women, youth and the disabled represented but what did UPND do?
A candidate’s ability to raise money is important for other reasons that are important to winning elections.
Surely if your preferred candidate can fail to raise a 5 pin, you may begin to wonder his or her networking prowess.
in america how a candidate raise his campaign funds also determines how voters will look at his candidacy.
Under 5s don’t know if they are coming or going. Amateur stuff. Greedy hh must be in a lot of debt to be charging people for wanting to serve the people. Disgusting man
PF HERE THE OPPOSTION COME YIPPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Why the sudden realisation? What prompted the drastic change? I think, the party couldn’t get enough applications. That was obvious considering the hefty nomination fees. Not everyone is rich like the handful leaders in UPND.
This happens when an autocratic person is your supreme leader. You dance to his tunes and end up having an egg on face. Isn’t it better to change the leader rather than facing humiliation?
If the nomination fees can be slashed this much and still are feasible, then why they were kept so high initially? Was that an attempt to swindle money? HH can do anything. He won’t even spare his won partymen when it comes to mint money. I hope now everyone has seen his true face.
UPND leaders have proved that they don’t have decision making capacity. Rather, they are always planning to extort money some or the other way. The present incident is the biggest example of their mindset. They want money at any cost, no matter even if, it meant exploiting their own men.
I am sure the fee for MPs will also be slashed to K500. There is no logic in keeping it the same when fee for other posts has been slashed to 10%. But why such a high nomination fee, in the first place?
Is there anyone in UPND brave enough to question the huge fees and sudden drastic reduction? This is something which needs to be investigated. Who decided the amount? Who approved it? What was the reason behind fixing the amount? I have right to know this, as UPND member.
It is now established beyond doubt that UPND top brass is a bunch of crooks. They are robbing their own men. This must be investigated thoroughly to unearth the truth.
Are you really computer scientist? I doubt. If you really are a computer scientist, then why are you not able to see through the scam? If it doesn’t come to your mind that there could be much more to the matter than what meets the eye? Don’t you suspect this could be a plan to extract money from party members aspiring to contest elections on party tickets?
Who told you Hakainde Hichilema is running the party for public service? It is solely for his personal profits. For him UPND is one his many businesses and he will definitely use it to make money and earn profits.
You have hit the bull’s eye! We have been telling this since long. No wonder they are rich despite doing nothing. The condition of Southern Province is the glaring example of how UPND exploits people. I am sure they must have misappropriated the CDF.
HH is the saviour Zambia needs, ECL and PF kuyabebele
I think on this one, I give UPND THUMBS DOWN !!!! I cant belive it that they are quick to change their minds after a week !!
Remember, I supported the reasoning of hiking the fees at where they were, simply I expected UPND to build an image that they are not going into Government to get rich. In other words, this is a huge differentiating factor on which their PR would have been based. Damage is huge with this change in fees compared to if they had left the prices as is. Are they fearing, that they will not have sufficient candidates? Whoever wants to enter politics should be vibrant, which includes the capability to raise money. If a candidate raise money for their own candidance, how can they fight for their constituencies? My advice to UPND: This years election is about 2 major…
If a candidate cant raise money for their own candidacy, how can they fight for their constituencies?
My advice to UPND: This year’s election is about 2 major themes:
1) Infrastructure Development Vs Creation of an environment that supports Ordinary families and
2) Politician centered on self-enrichment Vs Politicians that work for the betterment of people. UPND is missing the opportunity here, if not careful.
THIS SHOWS THAT UPND IS FULL OF CROOKS, MONEY MONGERS, THEY WANT TO RAISE MONEY FOR THEIR POCKETS TO USE DURING CAMPAIGNS. WHY SHOULD ASPIRING CANDIDATES EVEN PAY. WHAT EXPENSES ARE ENCOUNTERED IN JUST RECEIVING APPLICATIONS. THOSE PROCESSING THEM MUST DO THE JOB ON HUMANITARIAN GROUNDS. PEOPLE ARE ALREADY DISCOURAGED EVEN TO STAND ON UPND TICKET EVEN IF THE FEES HAVE SLASHED. AND THIS IS HICHILEMA WHO THINKS HES THE MOST INTELLIGENT WHEN HES SO DULL. RUBBISH UPND AND SAMMY HICHILEMA! ALUTA CONTINUA PF WITH EDGAR LUNGU!
Mr Kaizar sir, each member of a party make contributions as a way to keep the party alive. This does not mean HH is charging members money, they, themselves know their obligations.
@general kanene spot on. I also thought the theme for campaigns should be established after a nation wide survey as to what the people wants the GRZ to do for them. From the majority wishes campaign themes should be framed.
LET PF CARRY ON PLEASE
ITS THE KICKS OF A DYING HORSE
THEY ARE HISTORY LOOK AT THE INDEPENDENT POLLS PF 46% UNPD 54 % AND GAINING
SO WHATS ALL THE FUSS ABOUT
INFRASTUCTURE DEVELOPEMENT ?????? SURE BUT WHO IS GOING TO PAY THIS BACK CERTAINLY EVERYONE OVER 40 NOW WONT BE ALIVE AFTER THE 50 YEARS IT IS RECKONDED TO CLEAR AT A 5% GROWTH YEARLY WHICH WONT HAPPEN
AND THE DEBT IS NOT 125 BILLION but 33Bil
NOT !25 BILLION BUT 12.5 BILLION STATED BY BOZ
One wonders why UPND should charge so much when the political party is virtually worthless. You charge high amount for something that is worth something. For now even K 500 for an MP may not be worth it.
Its a clear loss again to PF UPDN will loss to PF in the presidential elections again 2021 PF will amass 60% of the votes given the current attractiveness of PF campaign agenda and achievements The failure of NDC is also a plus for PF As it is always the the quality of the Presidential candidate and attractiveness of the party is a score also to the Mps and Local Governments So far as it is the PF Presidential ,the party, manifesto,coverage,brand and achievements in sectors and infrastructure projects is self campaigning With this momentum and proper campaign strategy to reassure people and reposition Zambia’s developmental efforts in sectors not…
Assuming voters 7,002,393 and turn out of 60% of those voters ,Copperbelt and Lusaka being critical ,the votes are slewed towards PF and UPND in provinces and constituencies will be the looser It will loose ground even in the Southern Province stronghold looking at the distributions at 11% national total amongst the towns and constituencies that have seen development especially with strong candidates and campaigns