SEVERAL opposition political parties say they will seek mergers or support candidates of other parties in next year’s presidential election to ensure the winner gets a 50-percent-plus-one-vote threshold required to get into State House.
Some, however, say they will still give it a shot although they know that the Patriotic Front (PF) candidate Edgar Lungu is a clear favourite.
People’s Party (PP) president Mike Mulongoti said in an interview that political parties need to work together ahead of next year’s elections.
He said his party will choose a preferred presidential candidate and political party it will support in the 2016 polls.
Forum for Democratic Alternatives President Ludwig Sondashi said he will not contest the election but choose one formidable and relevant party to support.
“It is not good for all political parties to contest the 2016 elections, especially after the adoption of the 50-percent-plus-one-vote clause,” Dr Sondashi said.
Christian Democratic Party president Dan Pule said the possibility of political parties merging ahead of next year’s elections cannot be ruled out because of the passing of the 50-percent-plus-one-vote threshold.
“The 50-percent-plus-one-vote has brought a challenge to all of us as politicians. We can’t rule out the possibility of merging or supporting one preferred candidate ahead of the polls,” he said.
Dr Pule said his party will have to make a decision on whether to support a preferred candidate or contest the general elections.
He also supports the running mate clause and dual citizenship clause, which he described as progressive.
Dr Pule said the running mate clause has worked well in countries like Nigeria and Malawi.
Zambians for Empowerment and Development president Fred Mtesa said it is possible for a well organised political party to have its candidate win the election under the new law.
Dr Mtesa said it was, however, too early for his party to state its position on whether it would support a particular candidate or contest elections.
National Revolution Party president Cosmo Mumba said he would contest next year’s presidential election.
Dr Mumba said he knew President Lungu would win the election but he (Mumba) will still contest.
Green Party president Peter Sinkamba said he would contest the election.
UNIP president Tilyenji Kaunda and Alliance for Development and Democracy president Charles Milupi said they would state their positions later.
There are way too many jokers on the political arena. They are now waking up to the difficulty of 50+1, this will put most of you fellas in your rightful places.
THINGS ARE JUST AUTOMATICALLY STARTING TO FALL INTO PLACES. A CLEAN UP FOR ZAMBIA. WAIT FOR NEXT!!
Comment:here it comes man will always find a way or else there will be dead silence. come on
UPND watch the space, all these parties will support PF….
No, don’t say they will support PF, the right term is, ‘bought’, they will all be bought off by the corrupt PF using borrowed monies from China
Comment:here it comes man will always find a way or else there will be dead silence. come on true politicians will cross the bridge
This should have limited to only 2 political parties in Zambia than having this rally of political jokers.
Just watch the events as they begin unfolding. These small parties will be bribed by PF and will soon change their stories. Mike Mulongoti will soon begin praising Edgar and commending him for the good work he is doing to bring the economy back on course. The good thing is that the small parties are usually one-man parties so it wont matter that much if they join the PF praise singers. The people of Zambia are resolved to remove the Pathetic Foo’ls from government. So no matter what they do, they have to pack their bags.
wwilasha boi. just tell the tonga man to pack up his bags back to namwala
Twalya again
Anyway
2016 vote PF ( Edgar )
I thank you
Lunatic, how can one still talk about voting Lungu, when our people are now even failing to eat one proper meal in a day? We used to eat twice a day. We are worse off than in 2011, this bunch of kaponyas has reduced us to beggars, whilst they line their pockets with corruptly acquired wealth, starting with the stupid, brainless, incompetent, lazy, jameson dependent drunk and empty tin with his chipata mafia stationed at State house. This Kaloba govt, acquiring debt with out any thinking at all. How on earth did we end up with these CNP’s. If nothing is done next year, we might as well officially hand over the country to China, they would a better job than these parasites!
Fili eko tuleya bane. Insansa shilanya ubulanda. Tomorrow never come. Ifyakulya ubushiku, fitulikila kumalushi. What is happening now in our ruling party, will come to pass. God’s time is the best.