THE Lamba Lima Swaka Association of Zambia (LLASWAZ) has endorsed the candidature of Former Defence Permanent Secretary Stardy Mwale as Member Paliament for Masaiti Central Constituency.

The Association says they are supporting the candidacy of Mr Mwale on the Patriotic Front (PF) ticket because they believe he would represent the pipo of Masaiti well.

At a press briefing held in Ndola, Association President Jimmy Katanga Musuka said Mr Mwale has a heart and respect for the people of Masaiti.

Mr Musuka said Mr Mwale has demonstrated that he can lead and help the people of Masaiti in development.

“Stardy Mwale is a suitable man for Masaiti which is PF stronghold. He visits the people of Masaiti and helps them in so many ways,We want here in Masaiti,” he said.

He said Mr Mwale was born and bred in Masaiti and that his current investments in Masaiti had created jobs for the locals.

Other aspiring Members of Parliament endorsed for the forthcoming general elections by the association include Emmanuel Kasambo for Mpongwe Constituency on the PF ticket, Leonard Fungulwe as MP for Lufwanyama under the UPND.

The others are Stabiso Tshili as MP for Ngambwe in central province, Ellen Gregolack for Luanshya mayor and Diana Mosi for Masaiti District Chairperson.

Mr Musuku however urged party officials from both the opposition and ruling party to adopt candidates that were capable of representing the people and not on a monetary basis.

The Civil Society for Poverty Reduction (CSPR) in Eastern Province has described as exorbitant the adoption fees that some political parties are charging for this year elections.

ZANIS reports that CSPR Provincial Coordinator Samson Mbewe said the high application fees that political parties are charging those applying to be adopted as candidates has the potential to discriminate the youth and women from contesting in this year’s general elections.

Mr Mbewe noted that the fees do not promote youth and women participation in politics as majority of them have no financial capacity to afford what they are being asked to pay for applications in their various political parties.

He mentioned with the foregoing, the country will disadvantage itself from benefiting from the good leadership that the young and energetic possess.

Mr Mbewe has urged political parties to provide a conducive-environment for the young people and women to aspire for political office by reducing or completely removing the application fees.

‘’As CSPR, we are concerned with the high application fees charged to aspiring candidates by political parties. This will surely disadvantage youths and women who may want to vie for political office during the August general election,’’ he said.

Meanwhile, Youth Development Foundation (YDF) Executive Director Chinoya Muyeye has described the high fees being charged on candidacy applicants as a mockery on democracy as well as an impediment to youth participation in the political processes of the country.

Mr Muyeye has reiterated that the fees are not affordable to the young people considering the economic downturn that the country is passing through.

He has warned that if political parties do not rescind their decision, youth participation in the August polls will be affected as majority of cannot afford to pay the high fees.

Some political parties are charging as much as K5 000 for those applying to be adopted as candidates in the forthcoming parliamentary polls.

The ruling Patriotic Front (PF) party Secretary General Davies Mwila has said that the party will follow the guidelines of the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) requiring everyone standing for elective office to be in possession of a Grade 12 certificate or its equivalent.

Speaking at the party’s Lusaka Provincial Conference at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre yesterday, Mr Mwila said that only those who have the Grade 12 certificate.

Mr Mwila further said that the adoption of candidates to stand on the PF ticket will purely be on merit and that no one must be adopted on the basis of friendship, adding that those who were close to him and were using their proximity as a means for adoption will be disappointed as he does not want anyone to come to him and try to lure him to make a decision that will favour them.

Mr Mwila said all those who want to recontest their various positions on the party ticket will undergo a rigorous selection process as the party will not entertain those who did not work to the expectations of the people in their previous term.

He said those who did nothing in the previous five years will bid their positions farewell but that those who delivered will have nothing to worry about as they will still be re-adopted.

UPND Deputy Secretary General for Politics Patrick Mucheleka says Minister of Defence , Davies Chama’s remarks on Former Republican Vice President Dr Guy Scott clearly reveals his ignorance on the Country’s history.

Speaking during the press briefing held at the Party Secretariat this morning, Mr Mucheleka advised Mr Chama to read the country’s political history in order for him to fully appreciate the enormous contributions that Dr Scott has made to the country’s democratic growth.

Mr Mucheleka charges that the disparaging remarks against former Republican Vice President and newly appointed UPND Chief Consultant, Dr Scott by Mr Chama was also a clear indication that the Defence Minister has no understanding of the PF’s foundation.

He noted that history was rife with Dr Scott’s numerous contributions to Zambia’s politics, saying the MMD’s first Mpika Central MP had an inseparable connection with the PF founding Father, late Michael Chilufya Sata.

“You can’t claim to love late Sata without loving Guy Scott. Guy Scott and Sata are synonymous. Guy Scott gave direction in 2011, 2015 and 2016 and this time around, he has given direction and this direction is ‘Zambia, Forward!’,” he said.

He wondered how Mr Chama and the PF expected Dr Scott to take leave from politics and rest when the ruling party has ravaged the country’s economy.

“How does Mr Chama expect Dr Scott to rest when the PF has mismanaged this country? Look at Simon Zukas! In his 90s, he’s still chairman of OCIDA. How can Mr Zukas keep quiet when this country has been destroyed by these ba Mwankoles?” asked Mr Mucheleka.

“It is clear that all those that fought with Mr Sata faithfully have all been discarded and UPND will take care of all those who contributed to the development of this Country”, said Mr Mucheleka.