Sub-chiefs in Chavuma district in Northwestern Province have pledged to fully support President Edgar Lungu and the Patriotic Front (PF) ahead of next month’s general elections.

Speaking on behalf of nine others, sub-chief Lingoji said the traditional leaders are happy with many developmental projects which government has implemented in the district and the country as a whole hence their support to President Lungu and the party in this year’s polls.

The traditional leader said this in Chavuma today when President Lungu met them during his visit to the district.

“As traditional leaders here in Chavuma, we are so happy with the development you are implementing in our district such as the construction of a nursing school and the boarding secondary among others. This is great achievement to us and we will ensure you get back into power after August 12 general elections,” he said.

Meanwhile, the traditional leader has appealed to President Lungu to look into their plight of lack of transport and decent accommodation.

Sub-chief Lingoji said traditional leaders and government are partners in development adding that the former were eager to promote the latter’s developmental agenda.

He said the traditional leaders can only effectively do that when they have reliable transport.

He further appealed to the President for the construction of a bridge on Zambezi river so as to open up the west bank for social and economic development.

“We want you to look into our plight of the road network in our area especially putting up a bridge on the Zambezi river to connect to the west bank so that the area can open up for economic activities,” he said.

And President Lungu said he is ready to work with traditional leaders as partners in development.

President Lungu said linking the east and west banks through constructing a bridge on the Zambezi river will integrate trade between the two areas.

“We believe once there is a bridge on the Zambezi river, people between the two areas will be able to trade with ease and therefore the economy can improve very quickly,” he said.

President Lungu has since disclosed that it is part of government’s plan to construct a bridge on the Zambezi river.

He added that the ministry responsible has already commissioned some people to do some designs and costs for the bridge project.

He said Patriotic Front government has done a lot in terms of delivering meaningful development to all parts of the country.

The Head of State has urged traditional leaders to therefore reflect on many developmental programmes and projects which government has implemented in the district and the country as a whole in the last 10 years and compare with the 27 years of United Nation Independent Party (UNIP).

President Lungu earlier toured Chavuma main market and later held a meeting with party officials.

Patriotic Front (PF) Media Director Antonio Mwanza has challenged UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema to substantiate his claims that the PF will rig the August 12 polls.

Speaking when he featured on the Burning issue program on 5fm radio in Lusaka today, Mr. Mwanza charged that the rigging claim by Mr. Hichilema is a sign that the man knows that he cannot defeat President Lungu.

He further charged that Mr. Hichilema has received a lot of International funding and is under pressure because he knows that he is losing hence using rigging claims as an excuse.

“And I want to make direct accusations to him that he has received a lot of money from International funders and he can deny it and even take me to court, “Mr. Mwanza said.
“He has received a lot of International funding and he’s under pressure because he has promised these people things, now he knows he’s losing; these elections are gone; so what he’s doing now is to start crying about rigging,” he added.

The PF Media Director has wondered how the elections will be rigged when current ballot papers are being printed in Dubai with a delegation from all stakeholders including the UPND observing the printing process.

Mr. Mwanza explained that the same delegation from the UPND will be at the airport to receive the ballot papers in Zambia up to the point of the storage facility and will further have their own agents in the polling stations on election day.

“And when we finish voting the counting of the votes are done in public view, with every polling agent, every electoral observer being in the polling station,” Mr. Mwanza explained.

He charged that it is embarrassing for Mr. Hichilema to continue claiming that elections are being rigged when he has clearly lost in all five elections he has participated in.

And Mr. Mwanza stressed that there is no doubt that President Lungu will retain the presidency come August 12 because of what the PF has achieved during his first term in office.

He charged that this year’s elections will be the toughest that the UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema has participated in because he has no message to tell Zambians what he will do if voted into office because the PF under President Lungu has delivered.

Mr. Mwanza added that the Zambians have rejected the economic message that the opposition UPND were using as a campaign strategy because they have realized that the challenges being faced in the country are not exclusive to Zambia but the world at large due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The PF Media Director says it is for this reason that the UPND has abandoned their focus on the economy because it not working for them and have shifted to rigging claims.
“You only abandon a message as a politician when you realize it is not working, so they have realized that it is not working because Zambians are alert,” Mr. Mwanza said.

He added that the PF will easily win the August 12 polls because they have done enough to win the confidence and trust of the Zambian people to give the part and President Lungu a fresh mandate.

“We know for sure that the Zambian people understand that the economic difficulties we are facing today are not unique to Zambia and that they have not been caused by President Edgar Chagwa Lungu, we also know that the Zambian people will look at the record of the Patriotic Front and see what PF has done in the last 10 years and they will look at our party Manifesto and see what we promised to do in the next five years and that will be solid enough for them to give us a vote,” Mr. Mwanza explained.

The Patriotic Front (PF) and United Party for National Development (UPND), have both described the ongoing printing of ballot papers for this year’s general elections in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) as impressive.

PF Deputy National Chairperson, Davies Chama says the party is happy with progress made so far, on the printing of election ballot papers which started 10 days ago on July 4, 2021.

“We are quite impressed as a party considering that the initial printing was supposed to have first started on July 1 but was delayed by three days,” he said.

Mr Chama expressed optimism that the printer, Al Ghurair Publishing and Printing Company, will finish the process of producing the ballot papers on time in readiness for the elections as outlined by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ).

“Today is the 10th day of printing and we are standing at 71 percent which is great progress. We have confidence that the printing process, will be on schedule as planned by ECZ,” stated Mr Chama.

And UPND representative, Richard Njolomba said the progress made so far in printing the ballot papers, has met the party’s expectation.

“So far the process is going on well and we are impressed with the quality of prints we have seen. We are very confident that we are going to finish the printing within the given time,” said Mr Njolomba.

Mr Njolomba who is also representing the UPND Alliance team members described the printing company, as being credible adding that they have confidence in it.

“The fact that the printer looks very credible, is a very important aspect to us as a party and alliance as many people are viewing this years’ election as being crucial for the country,” said Mr Njolomba.

The two political parties were commenting on the progress made so far, on the overall printing of the general elections ballot papers currently underway in Dubai, which as of today has reached 71 percent.

Speaking to the media during a briefing earlier, Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) Commissioner, Ali Simwinga noted that the progress made by the company was in line with the timeline of the Commission and will finish the process on time.

“The project is going very well and the company has indicated that it has not faced any challenges, and if anything, is pleased that the quality of information conveyed to the company has made their job easier, an assurance that the project will proceed to our expectations,’’ he explained.

Mr Simwinga stated that the Commission believes in genuine dialogue with stakeholders, which is essential to building confidence in the electoral process and trust in ECZ’s activities.

“The Commission believes that open dialogue is important and this is why we inform stakeholders so that they own the process. We have not hidden anything here in Dubai and are happy with the presence of stakeholders here,” Mr Simwinga said.

And giving an update on the printing progress by Al Ghurair, ECZ Senior Corporate Affairs Officer, Sylvia Bwalya said the overall total percentage of progress made as of July 13, 2021 was 71 percent.

“We have made tremendous progress on the printing of the ballot papers here in Dubai. Our overall total of the printing progress in terms of percentage is now at 71 percent from yesterday’s 65 percent,” Ms Bwalya disclosed.

Ms Bwalya gave the breakdown for the printing of presidential ballot papers saying it is at 68 percent where as of yesterday, was at 55 percent.

She said the mayoral and council chairperson ballot paper printing progress was standing at 97 percent, while the parliamentary ballot paper is at 84 percent.

Ms Bwalya added that the Commission will also include the printing of ballot papers of successful candidates from fresh nominations that took place yesterday, together with current ballot papers Al Ghurair printing company was processing in Dubai.

UPND Lusaka Province Chairperson, Obvious Mwaliteta has called on the people of Kafue town to rally behind the candidature of UPND Alliance Presidential candidate, Hakainde Hichilema in the forthcoming elections.

Zambia goes to the polls on 12th August to elect her 7th Republican President.

Speaking when drumming up support for the UPND Kafue parliamentary candidate, Mirriam Chonya and her town Council, Buumba Malambo in Mungu Ward yesterday, Mr Mwaliteta stated that voting for the UPND in the forthcoming elections would ensure development in the town.

He stressed that resuscitating defunct state parastatals in Kafue town was top of the UPND’s development agenda, adding that Mr Hichilema had a well-thought-out plan on how to develop the area.

He noted that the PF’s failure to tap into the town’s economic potential has led to mass unemployment and untold misery amongst the people of Kafue.