The Patriotic Front (PF) has scooped Kabwe Central constituency and party president Michael Sata beat the nine contesters in yesterday’s tripartite elections.

Announcing the results at Kabwe Municipal Council at about 16:30hrs today, Returning Officer Nelly Chimuka said Michael Chilufya Sata polled 15, 646 followed by Rupiah Bwezani Banda of the MMD who garnered 8,650 votes.

UPND’s Hakainde Hichilema got 2, 195 votes while FDD president Edith Nawakwi managed only 60 votes.

Other contestants included National Restoration party president Elias Chipimo Jr who got 46 votes ADD president Charles Milupi 29 votes, ZED president Richard Mutesa 08 votes , UNIP 39 and Heritage party president Brig, Gen. Godfrey Miyanda managed 62 votes.

Mrs. Chimuka did however not announce the total number of votes cast and those rejected saying these will be made ready tomorrow.

In the parliamentary race, James Kapyanga PF candidate scooped Kabwe Central constituency after garnering 14, 884 beating MMD’s Jane Mwewa Chileshe who got 8, 348 votes.

UPND’s Margaret Muyangana got 2, 415 while FDD Redson Mtonga managed 445 votes, UNIP Jairus Chakulanta went away with 601 votes and Christine Chikanwa, an independent candidate who got 211.

Meanwhile there was jubilation by PF carders outside the Municipal council when after the announcement of Kapyanga’s victory who lifted him.

And the Patriotic Front has won the Kankoyo parliamentary seat in Mufulira district.

Patriotic Front candidate Levy Chabala polled 8, 420 votes beating three other candidates from the MMD, UPND, UPDD, and UNIP.

Mr Chabala was followed by MMD’s Shadreck Musonzya who polled 3,235 with UPND’s Patrick Mbetela coming third with 729 votes.

ZANIS reports that Presiding Officer Tryson Chuunga announced the results for Kankoyo Parliamentary at 12: 35 hours.

In the election, the other two candidates were Emmanuel Simumba of UPDD and Zulu Vuto who got 308 and 75 votes respectively.

Meanwhile, the Patriotic Front leader Michael Sata has emerged victorious in the presidential elections in Kankoyo constituency after scoring 9,642 votes.

MMD ‘s Rupiah Banda came second with 2,794 votes followed by UPND’s Hakainde Hichilema who scored 303.

Elias Chipimo of NAREP scored 30 while Ng’andu Magande had a tie with Heritage’s Geoffrey Miyanda with 15 votes each followed by Charles Milupi of ADD with 10 votes.

The other contestants are FDD’S Edith Nawakwi who came second last and Fredrick Mutesa of ZED who only managed a paltry three votes.

The PF has also scooped all the wards in Kankoyo constituency in Mufulira except for Kwacha ward where the election was suspended due to an omission of two contesting candidates on the ballot papers.

And Mpelembe ward, the winning candidate was not announced due to technical problems on the computer that was used to print the results.

In Kantanshi, the Patriotic Front has reclaimed Kantanshi Parliamentary seat in Mufulira district after the party’s candidate Yamfwa Mukanga scored 13,452 votes beating four other contesters.

The MMD came second with its candidate Daniel Mutimushi scoring 2,981 votes followed by David Nkhanta an independent candidate who polled 2 126 while UPND ‘s Josphine Lukwesa was in fourth position with 451 votes.

ZANIS reports that Presiding Officer Gilbert Kaluba declared the results for Kantanshi at 13 hours (1pm).

The UPND candidate was followed by Tanny Mbewe of Forum For Democracy and Development who scored 188 votes while UNIP was trailing behind with only 74 votes.

The Patriotic Front has also recorded the highest votes in the presidential elections in Kantanshi constituency with its part President Micheal Sata polling 15,280 followed by MMD’s Rupiah Banda who scored 3,221 with UPND’s Hakainde Hichilema polling 277 votes.

NAREP’S Ellias Chipimo polled 29 votes while Charles Milupi of ADD got 26 votes.

Heritage’s Godfrey Miyanda and the FDD’s Edith Nawakwi both got 20 votes while UNIP’s Tilyenji Kaunda and Ng’andu Magande got 18 and 16 votes respectively as Fredrick Mutesa of ZED only managed 9 votes.

And the Patriotic Front has taken 9 wards out of the 10 wards in the constituency losing only one ward to the MMD .

In Mufulira Central Constituency, Patriotic Front’s John Kufuna beat four other candidates to emerge winner in the Mufulira central constituency.

Mr Kufuna polled 10,384 beating MMD’s Evans Chibanda who came second with 5,729 followed by UPND’s Mulundu Mpundu who got 317 with UNIPs Kabango Oliver trailing with 251 votes.

And in the presidential Elections, the Patriotic Front again got the highest number of votes.

The PF candidate scored 11,318 followed by the MMD candidate who got 4,779 and UPND candidate who got 374 while UNIP candidate polled 67 votes.

NAREP got 44, followed by ADD whose candidate scored 33 votes while Ng’andu Magande of NMP managed to get 22 votes and Geoffrey Miyanda of Heritage party polled only 19 votes while FDD and ZED scored 5 and 9 votes respectively.

Meanwhile the Patriotic Front has won the majority of wards in the Constituency.
The party has won 8 wards out of 10 in Mufulira Central constituency.

The wards lost are Mutundu which went to the MMD and Kafue which was lost to an independent candidate.
Meanwhile the situation still remained peaceful in Mufulira district today.

ZANIS

The Electoral Commission of Zambia -ECZ- has warned media houses against announcing that any Presidential candidates has won the Presidency before the Commission announces the final results.

ECZ Public Relations Manager Cris Akufuna says it is mischievous and wrong for any media house to run headlines or stories purporting that a candidate has worn or conceded defeat before all the results are announced by the ECZ.

Mr Akufuna says speculations concerning the elections are not allowed and are against the electoral code of conduct.

He says media houses should realise that elections are a sensitive issue which should be handled responsibly to avoid confusing the electorates.

He was speaking in an interview with ZNBC News in Lusaka on today.

[ZNBC]

Movement for multi party democracy MMD Lusaka province chairman William Banda is reported to have been beaten last night by unknown people.

According to information obtained, Mr. Banda is said to have gone to Chibolya Basic School to harass policemen who were manning the school.

Mr.Banda is said to have insulted the policemen that there were not doing their job in protecting the party in government.

As his team of party cadres were driving away, some unknown people dragged Mr. Banda out of the car and beat him.

It was at that point that Mr. Banda fired three gun shots, making his attackers scampering in all direction leaving the restless MMD Lusaka province chairman screening for help.

A few hours ago, Mr. William Banda was said to be admitted to the University teaching Hospital.

Some Police officers confirmed to QFM News on the incident.

And Deputy Commissioner of police Auxenxio Mbewe was last evening stoned by unruly MMD cadres as he led a unit of riot police to rescue electoral officers that were caught in the violence in John Leing.

Mbewe who spoke to journalists immediately after the rescue operation said the riotous behaviour is being spearheaded by young men who he said do not have anything to do.

he discosed that he was stoned on his forehead as well as his left leg as his unit apprehended 10 of the riotous.

he said his unit was reinforcing and heading back to John Leing to try and contain the situation in the area where tires are being burnt on the roads as youths continue to ran amok.

The Police Commissioner stated that it is only the Lusaka that is experiencing sporadic of violence.

QFM

Counting of votes in the 2011 Presidential, Parliamentary and Local government elections started last night at Nakatindi hall in Lusaka.

Counting of votes is currently going on at Nakatindi hall for Lusaka central, Kanyama and Kabwata constituencies respectively.

ZANIS reports that ballot papers in the company of election monitors, agents and police were being transported to Nakatindi hall a totalling centre for Lusaka.

However, results are yet to be declared by the Returning Officer appointed by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ).

People are gathered at the hall anxiously waiting for the results to be declared.

Ten political parties are in the presidential race in this year’s tripartite elections among them, the MMD, PF, UPND, NAREP, FDD, HP, ZED ADD and NMP.

Meanwhile, suspected PF cadres beat up Mandevu constituency Returning Officer Morgan Kasale for allegedly transporting ballot boxes without the company of election monitors.

Mr Kasale who was driving a Mitsubishi Pajero registration number ABT 5692 arrived at Nakatindi hall at about 06:45 hours and upon arrival PF cadres questioned him why he was alone without the escort of election monitors and political party agents.

This prompted the PF cadres to manhandle and beat him up but quick action by the police saved him from further beatings.

He has however been taken to hospital for medical treatment.

Earlier, PF Mandevu aspiring candidate Jean Kapata in an interview with ZANIS condemned the unprofessional manner Mr Kasale conducted himself.

She also expressed confidence that she would retain Mandevu parliamentary seat.

Meanwhile, The Zambia Police have arrested ten (10) suspected people in Lusaka’s John Laing compound for violence and riotous behaviour.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Auxencia Mbewe said the riots were triggered after the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) was accused of taking long to take election material at John Laing basic school polling station.

Mr. Mbewe told journalists in an interview at Lusaka’s Nakatindi hall Tuesday evening that the police managed to apprehend the culprits after deploying more officers to the area.

ZANIS reports that he said the situation was bad as the arrested rioters pelted stones at the school’s roof top and the election officers.

Mr. Mbewe said the Zambia Police has not yet probed the matter but would quickly do so.

He said Police would ensure that perpetrators of violence are brought to book as soon as possible.

The Police Deputy Commissioner observed that Lusaka is the only ward that has so far recorded violent and riotous behaviour.

He described the situation in other parts of the country as calm unlike the scenario in some parts of Lusaka.

ZANIS

-Two polling stations in Kabwe central constituency in Central Province will close after midnight tonight because they opened late.

A check by ZANIS at about 22:30hrs at Waya A in Katondo compound and Hellen Kaunda in Kasanda Mine compound respectively, found Presiding Officers and polling assistants attending to voters.

At Hellen Kaunda long queues could still be found at around 20hrs.

The station delayed to open because ballot papers were not delivered in time forcing voters to cause confusion which led to breaking of a ballot box and four covers.

Presiding Officer Judith Kaluba told ZANIS that her station will close at 00:24 to compensate for the lost time.

However, the situation was normalised after police moved in quickly to control the people who were riled by delayed ballot boxes.

At Waya A in Katondo compound, Presiding Officer Keren Chisenga said the station will also close after midnight.

ZANIS

The Zambia Police Service has arrested five people in Kanyama in connection with the confusion that reigned in the area today.

Police Spokesperson Ndandula Siamana said the five were arrested after some unnamed people stoned and set ablaze two vehicles following speculations that there were some pre-marked ballot boxes in one of the vehicles.

Ms. Siamana told ZANIS in a telephone interview in Lusaka today that five have since been charged with conduct likely to cause breach of peace and malicious damage.

The Police Spokesperson said there was also minor confusion in Kabwe which was also caused by delayed opening of voting resulting in the smashing of the vehicle belonging to the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ).

Meanwhile, peace has returned to some parts of Lusaka and Kabwe were confusion reigned due to delayed opening of the electoral process at selected poling centres in Lilanda, of Matero constituency, and Kalingalinga in Munali constituency.

Ms. Ndandula said peace and order was restored and voting had continued to go on normally.

She said police was on the ground and will continue to keep eye on the situation and warned all trouble makers of stern action.

Ms. Ndandula said the police will continue to undertake patrols across the country during this period as the public awaits election results.

She also advised the public against taking the law in their hands but follow laid down procedure as stipulated in the law.

She further warned that police will not entertain any lawlessness from members of the public during this period.

A riot erupted in Kanyama after some people claimed they found a man carrying pre-marked ballot papers for national elections.

Late opening of voting is said to have caused confusion in Lilanda and Kalingalinga compounds in Matero and Munali constituencies respectively.

ZANIS

Calm has been restored at Lilanda Basic School in Matero Constituency following confusion that rocked the polling centres at the School this morning.

Confusion ensued around 10:00 hours after word went round that some election materials were not delivered on time and later a light truck suspected to have carried election materials arrived at the school.

This prompted voters to conduct a search and in the process they removed the materials in question and set them ablaze and stoned some vehicles found at the premises.

A check by a ZANIS crew at the school this afternoon found tight security while voting was going on smoothly.

Police Officers in full riot gear were found patrolling the place amid some fears by voters who were not comfortable with the presence of the horses and tear-gas canisters.

Zambia Red Cross Society Officers were also on hand to provide first-aid services to casualties.

Society Secretary General (SG) Charles Mushitu in an interview with ZANIS disclosed that about 50 casualties have so far been attended to in Lusaka.

Mr. Mushitu expressed fears that the number of people being injured would rise, if violence related incidences occurred during voting period.

He further disclosed that his organisation had withdrawn personnel from Nakatindi polling centre in Lusaka’s Kanyama constituency due to increasing levels of violence in the area.

He said the Society has since informed the Electoral Commission of Zambia on the issue adding that it would only send staff when the situation normalised.

“As ZRSC, we have treated 50 casualties that have been injured as a result of violence throughout Lusaka. Our fear is that this number might increase if violence continues during this voting period.

So far, we have withdrawn our staff at Nakatindi polling centre in Kanyama and we have informed ECZ on the matter,” Mr. Mushitu said.

He added that the Society trained 10,000 volunteers to provide humanitarian services across the country.

Meanwhile, Presiding Officers talked at the affected centres described the voting process after the confusion as peaceful.

Fidelis Halwiindi regretted the violence but was quick to point out that some voters who fled the area had started returning to cast their votes.

Mr. Halwiindi hoped that the voter turn-out would rise before the official close of the voting period at 18:00 hours this evening.

Election Monitor from the Civil Society Election Coalitions (CSEC)- 2011 Bruno Mwiinga also expressed concern that voting which started on a peaceful note would be disrupted in that manner.

Mr. Mwiinga said it was not good to resort to violence as a way of airing grievances but urged Zambians to use the established channels of communication when aggrieved.

[pullquote]The polling station had 1,827 total registered of which 620 eligible voters had cast their votes by 15:00 hours local time.[/pullquote]

He further said it is good that violence was quelled as it had the potential to culminate into voter-apathy at Lilanda Basic School.

At Chitukuko polling station in Kanyama Constituency voting was going on smoothly and peaceful.

The polling station had 1,827 total registered of which 620 eligible voters had cast their votes by 15:00 hours local time.

Presiding Officer Warren Mulambwa said the turn-out was dull in the morning but eventually improved in the afternoon.

Votes in some polling stations began at 06 hours while in some centres the exercise delayed. Polling is expected to officially close at 18 hours Zambian time.

The Electoral Commission of Zambia has since expressed disappointment at the delay of the electoral process in some centres and has assured that the lost time would be compensated.

ZANIS