United Party for National Development (UPND) on the Copperbelt Province says the just ended Masaiti parliamentary by-elections were free and fair, despite the party’s loss.
UPND Copperbelt Secretary told ZANIS that tribalism cannot come into play as about 20 per cent of the registered voters in Masaiti are not original Lambas.
Meanwhile, Mr. Kasongo alleged that despite the loss, the UPND is gaining supporters who are mostly from PF as can be seen from the recent voting pattern.
“As you can see from our performance in these elections, the competition is now just between UPND and PF and in constituencies where we used to get almost nothing we are now getting thousands with numbers still growing,” said Mr. Kasongo.
And Patriotic Front (PF) Copperbelt Secretary Amon Chisenga has thanked the people of Masaiti for accepting the PF by voting for Mr. Katambo as area MP.
Mr. Chisenga said the recent election victories clearly indicate that people have got confidence in the leadership of President Edgar Lungu.
Copperbelt UPND Provincial Secretary, Augustine Kasongo told ZANIS that except for some pockets of violence by PF cadres on UPND camp which was reported by the media, there was nothing much to complain about on the election process.
And Mr. Kasongo said the loss by the UPND is due to some advantages that the PF had over the UPND such as the fielding of a sitting candidate and it being the ruling party.
Mr. Kasongo also bemoaned the voter apathy that charactarised the just ended three by-elections in the country, adding that the Electoral Commission Of Zambia (ECZ) in Masaiti was forced to go around wards educating voters on the importance of voting.
And the Copperbelt PF Provincial Secretary has asked government to come up with a mobile voter registration programme to help address low voter turnouts.
PF candidate Michael Katambo, won the Masaiti parliamentary seat after polling 5,052 votes against his closest rival Peter Mumba of the UPND who polled 2,150 votes.
The NGO upnd has always been associated with failure! Its good that they have started realizing that the mighty PF is a force to reckon with. Come next year this NGO will be history!
COME 2016 UPND WILL WIN.
People like Munyelo Pwete! and others. What exactly is your basis for supporting PF. I challenge you all leave your jobs in foreign countries or if you a beneficiary of the loot leave those riches and try to get employment in Zambia and leave under these economic conditions. Even a salary of 5,000 zmk a month with a family of two kids is unbearable. What more those in the villages with nothing?? Your relatives, friends etc are living with such conditions where there is no water at UTH or medicine and you go supporting PF. We have to start been proud of our country and fight for what is right for our country. PF are pure failures. I feel for the future generation. We have to stop this nonsense. LUNGU AND PF MUST BE KICKED OUT AT ALL COSTS.
By what means? Lungu is cleaning the mess & you’re busy dreaming
There is no maturity in most of the online debates. People either hate or like UPND or PF but none gives substantive reasons for their support.
perhaps most online bloggers are all young people of theoretical intellectual measure.
i support PF because HH is a free mason. He can never be a model for my kids because i belive in christ.
Most of them are just emotional not knowing that all parties in zambia are the same. Example Lungu and Inonge are originally from Upnd etc!
@Kopala, as much as I respect your opinion. What evidence do you have that HH is a free mason apart from the rumours from people like Bishop Chomba who is in court to prove these allegations? So are you saying I should also believe the rumours that our President has been taking Sangomas to State house. And if we assume this is true, then for you which one is better, african witchcraft or freemasonry( i.e if it is true). If you are a true christian you will condemn both, but you are just malicious and you know the real reason why you dont support HH. To me both allegations of the president and HH are just rumours on which i cannot base my judgement. For me i want anyone who can develop Zambia for me and my children. As a christian I will pray for the deliverance of our leaders.
You are correct my sister. I support you on this one.
@ Kopala and déjà vu. I thought you knew that posting rubbish online is now a hobby for most of these chaps
Its kolopa .com come 2016 UPND-HH will fall coz neganega formula shall be applied on them.