United Party for National Development (UPND) losing parliamentary candidate for Nakonde Constituency, Simon Simwanza has petitioned the results.
Petitioning now opposition Patriotic Front’s (PF) candidate Luka Simumba who won the seat, Mr Simwanza says he decided to petition in accordance to Elections Commission of Zambia ( ECZ )’s electoral process.
Mr Simwanza , in an interview yesterday, maintains that it is his right to appeal when electoral laws are violated going by a number of electoral mal-practices which occurred during campaigns.
“The electoral commission has guidelines that must be followed so when there is serious defiling of such guidelines, it is somebody’s right to say no this is not right, ” he said.
He revealed that his decision to petition the election results was in order to defend the democracy this country is built on.
“I for one and the people of Nakonde had seen serious malpractices , serious savagery violence and other serious issues that are not supposed to be tolerated in this era and age of elections,” he said.
Mr. Simwanza stated that he based his petition on political violence, and limited political ground for his party to campaign in Nakonde.
He further alleged that the PF committed a number of mal-practices such as slaughtering animals which were shared with electorates to woo votes.
“The ruling party was taking people for granted by slaughtering animals like cows and start giving them meat to go and vote for them, I think these are some of the things that are disadvantaging people out there, ” he said.
He added that such practices are likely to twist the outcome of elections considering that Nakonde is a rural constituency.
The losing candidate charged that with the overwhelming evidence that is available, he is assured that the petition will go in his favour.
“The beauty about the courts is that they go with evidence. Yes the evidence is there and we are 100% sure that this will go through because not one thing we are talking about in that petition doesn’t have evidence,” he said.
The winning candidate Luka Simumba scooped 22,384 while Simon Simwanza of the UPND got 16, 826 votes.
Yes you have the right to petition. But NO it is not the sign of a good LOSER.
Petition, petition, petition
They just ashamed that they lost when they were supposed not to lose. People in Chingola were feted by both parties but they chose Upnd. PF which had a bigger advantage lost.
52 petitions so far! I think what’s required is enhanced education on election systems. The ECZ must engage both voters and candidates. There’s so much ignorance and I think that’s what caused the death of Jackson Kungo. Many of these petitioners have done it out of emotion. I doubt if they’ll be able to prove their claims
i thought if one slaughter animals for his or her people it’s part of campaigning strategy wich even the person who is petitioning results today can be free to utilise the same strategy & wich is not a crime,slaughtering animals for your people is it a crime ? ???? the Answer is big NO.
UPND Losing MPs continue to petition results
Was expecting to see more than just this Simwanza petition judging from the headline…Who are the other losing UPND losing candidates petitioning???
But what about constituencies in Southern, Western and Northwestern provinces where PF poll agents were being beaten and chased away, what does the UPND have to say about that? Was there fairness in the way polls were conducted there? Why is it that petitions are only coming from one party? Is this being instigated by UPND losing candidates or the UPND as a party?
@OBSERVER …. They can also petition, it’s their right but i so hope that every one petitioning has evidence if not please stop wasting our time .
Please if you feel they were malpractices continue petitioning that is the civilized way of doing things, and nobody should lie that poll agents for PF were chased in Southern province, Trying to manage the embarrassment of Dundumwezi where Kebby Mbewe had told us earlier that things had changed
The Chawama one is a solid petition that one…Tasila Dad’s bootlickers went all out trying impress the boss…so his little princess could get into Parliament. These people were distributing maize and cooking oil to everyone the day before elections…a strategy that has Bowman’s fingerprints on it.
Petition as many as you can as long as you have tangible evidence. That’s justice and it is provided for in the constitution
Our coffers are dry. As you petition we are waiting for free education, employment, fertilizer k250 and k1500 salary increments
Leonard Deco Tembo – If that is to be allowed then only rich people will be going to Parliament. This is a vice that needs to be nipped in the bud.
TARINO YELLOW JAUNDICED WHAT ABOUT THE PF MONITORS WHO WERE CHASED FROM POLLING STATIONS IN SOUTHERN PROVINCE?
Yaba Nkani yabipa….. one of the petitioners is about to lose his property in Luapula. The man he borrowed money from wants his money within a week. Just imagine borrowing money on the hope of winning the election?