The Electoral Commission of Zambia has prescribed 20th January 2022 as the date on which to hold the Kabwata Constituency Parliamentary by-election in the Lusaka District of Lusaka Province.
In a statement released to the media, the commission said that, on the same date, the Commission will also conduct two (2) Local Government Ward by-elections in Liangati Ward of Senanga Town Council in Western Province and Sokontwe Ward of Milenge District of Luapula Province.
With the nominations for by-elections taking place on Tuesday, 28th December 2021, voting will take place on 20th January 2022 from 06:00 hours to 18:00 hours.
The election in Kabwata Constituency has been necessitated following the death of the United Party for National Development (UPND) Member of Parliament, Mr Levy Mkandawire on Thursday 18th November 2021. The vacancy in Liangati Ward is a result of the death of UPND Councillor Mr Mwangala Sililo on 4th November 2021. Further, the vacancy for Sokontwe Ward has been necessitated by the resignation of Independent Councillor Vincent Kunda on 28th October 2021
According to the statement, aspiring candidates in the by-elections should lodge completed and attested statutory declaration and nomination papers subscribed before a Magistrate, Local Court Magistrate, Head of a Government Primary or Secondary School, Principal of a College, Commissioner for Oaths, Election Officer or returning officer on Tuesday, 28th December 2021 between 09:00 hours and 15:00 hours.
The statement further stated that the aspiring candidates for the Parliamentary by-election in Kabwata Constituency should take along with them fifteen (15) supporters who must be registered voters in the said Constituency. The supporters must have in their possession their Green National Registration Cards and Voters Cards. Male aspiring candidates for the Parliamentary by-election will be required to pay Fifteen Thousand Kwacha (K15,000), while female and youth aspiring candidates are expected to pay Thirteen Thousand Five Hundred Kwacha (K13,500) non-refundable election (nomination) fee.
The commission said that all Candidates in the by-elections must also present certified copies of their Grade 12 Certificates, as a minimum academic qualification or equivalent and in view of this, the Commission advised aspiring candidates who may wish to contest in these by-elections that failure to comply with these requirements shall render the nomination papers null and void.
The commission also said that Media personnel and Registered Non-Governmental Organisations wishing to monitor/observe the elections are advised to apply for accreditation in the respective districts which will take place from Thursday 23rd to Monday 27th December 2021, for Nominations and Sunday 16th to Wednesday 19th January 2022 for the Polls.
Accreditation for political party officials/representatives of candidates wishing to monitor elections in the districts/ wards shall only be up to a maximum of 10 members per political party, noting that only a maximum of 5 accredited members per political party/candidates and two accredited representatives of NGOs shall be authorised to represent their respective political parties or NGOs at the Collation Centre (Totalling Centre) at a given time.
Also, only five (5) senior officials of any participating political party/candidate with Electoral Commission of Zambia accreditation will be allowed to accompany aspiring candidates into the Nomination Centre during the filing of nominations. The rest of the supporters should remain outside the 400-metre parameter radius from the Nomination Centre in accordance with the law.
The commission also set the campaign period for these elections to commence on Tuesday 28th December 2021 after 15:00 hours and will end at 18:00 hours on Wednesday, 19th January 2022, adding that not more than two (2) political party members/candidate representatives per participating political party/candidate shall be allowed to witness the counting of votes at every Polling Station.
Candidates make sure you bring a long a genuine grade 12 school certificate.
I do not support by elections. The logical thing to happen is that the party which lost the candidate should have intra party elections and elect someone to complete the remainder of the term.
Leave the public out of it, and save ECZ money.
Perhaps the only instance we could have an election is if the seat lost belonged to an independent MP (who could also leave the seat to his spouse or children, if any).
Let us avoid by elections please.
These by elections, unfortunate as this may be, we thought that there was a general agreement that we minimize these by giving the wining party to appoint their own replacement. Wo ever thought were being clever by shooting down even good pieces of legislation just shot themselves in the foot. Very very sad.
#Chiza, your observations are spot on. I take them as my own.
Yes and expect fake kwacha appreciation…we know the trick ….PF used to do the same thing and where are they
I have read some very good thoughts from some bloggers here, but I also guess what they would think could happen to the nine nullified seats from the opposition .
As is already known that the speaker of the house of parliament has ruled that those MPs whose seats were nullified their seats are vacant if the said is true is Zambian going for those by elections!
@1-Chiza: Spot on, if we are serious about True Transformation, we should let go these By-Elections. They mean nothing and in most cases, they are won by the Ruling Party. Especially in mixed places like urban areas. Good Suggestion to bring forth and Stop them.
KABWAAAAAAAAAATWAAAAAAAAAAAA HERE YOU COME BACK TO PF…………by the way rumors have it that they will only increase Fuel and Electricity prices after the Kabwata by-elections because the signal is already out there that KABWATA IS GOING BACK TO PF AS THE PEOPLE REALIZED THE MISTAKE THEY MADE!
NULLIFY 9 SEATS, WASTE MIILIONS TO HOLD BY-ELECTIONS, SEATS TO BE RE-WON BY THE SAME PF AGAIN……………..Lord help this continent.
nshilimubemba December 13, 2021 At 8:34 pm
I have read some very good thoughts from some bloggers here, but I also guess what they would think could happen to the nine nullified seats from the opposition .
As is already known that the speaker of the house of parliament has ruled that those MPs whose seats were nullified their seats are vacant if the said is true is Zambian going for those by elections! FIRTSTLY THE CONCOURT WILL NEED TO CONFIRM IF THE ACTIONS OF THE HIGH COURT OVER THE 9 SEATS WAS OK, THEN YES, FRESH BY ELECTIONS. BUT PF WILL AGAIN WIN THESE SEATS IN THEIR STRONGHOLDS, WHAT A WASTE OF MONEY
And they have kept quiet about the killers of Mkandawire….. only to come and use his name for campaigning.
Take note that the PF thieves and thugs are ready to use laundered money again to test the lost grounds.
Given Lubinda to contest without fail…
My battles with the ECZ commissioners or Top management is not yet over. When is the appointing authority going to start cleaning the ECZ. Mine is a lonely voice but people have gone mute after an UPND hard won victory which had some question marks had the opposition to been alert.