29 June 2011
UNITED Party for National Development (UPND) president Hakainde Hichilema has called on members of his party to concentrate on campaigns and not to fight for positions.
Mr Hichilema’s call comes in the wake of controversy in Southern Province where some members have been accused of manipulating constituency primary elections to disadvantage new entrants, including late party president Anderson Mazoka’s widow, Mutinta, who has so far lost chances of contesting the Pemba seat.
During a Press briefing in Lusaka yesterday, Mr Hichilema advised his members to concentrate on campaigning for the party and not to fight for positions.
Mr Hichilema said the UPND was stronger than the Patriotic Front (PF), which he said had lost popularity, especially on the Copperbelt.
He said his recent visit to the Copperbelt showed that PF had lost support and that the party leader, Michael Sata was not a factor anymore.
Meanwhile, some incumbent members of Parliament (MPs) in Southern Province have been accused of manipulating the constituency adoption process in order to disadvantage new entrants including Ms Mazoka.
UPND Southern Province deputy chairperson John Chidyaka confirmed that Ms Mazoka was one of the members who had applied for adoption in Pemba.
However, UPND sources told the Times that Ms Mazoka lost during the primaries held in the 19 constituencies on Monday.
The sources said most of the incumbent MPs had manipulated their way and disadvantaged the new entrants who had so far done so much in the constituencies.
According to the sources, in Pemba there was a tie between the incumbent MP David Matongo and Jimmy Dons, the Sialwizya Ward Councillor, as they had both polled 10 votes each while a Mr Matyola had no votes.
Ms Mutinta Mazoka came third with five votes.
In Siavonga, the incumbent, Douglas Syakalima was the front runner after beating other contestants in the primary constituency elections.
“In Itezhi Tezhi the incumbent Godfrey Beene tumbled to a Mr Monde. He was number three after Ms Namakau Kaingu. In Monze Central Mr Jack Mwiimbu is also a front runner,” the sources said.
Meanwhile, UPND Southern Province deputy chairperson John Chidyaka confirmed in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that Ms Mazoka was among five other aspirants for the Pemba seat.
“Yes I can confirm that she is one of those people that have applied for adoption in Pemba. For the adoption process you can speak to the national management committee in Lusaka,” he said.
And during a Press briefing, Mr Hichilema said some opposition party leaders failed to attend the burial of the late second president of the Republic of Zambia, Frederick Chiluba because their health status could not allow them.
Mr Hichilema said in Lusaka yesterday that only people in good health could manage to attend Dr Chiluba’s burial because the programme was long and strenuous.
AllAfrica – All the Time
Continued here:
Concentrate On Campaigns – HH