Senior citizen advises government to avoid un necessary by-elections

Senior citizen advises government to avoid un necessary by-elections

Ndola, March 7, ZANIS  ——— A Senior Citizen in Ndola has called on the Patriotic Front government to discourage Members of Parliament defecting from the opposition to the ruling party to reduce on the number of by- elections as they were a drain on national resources.

Mr Humphrey Ngulube who is also a retired teacher said in an interview with ZANIS in Ndola today that by-elections made it difficult for people to appreciate government efforts to develop the nation as a lot of money was being used for the repeated polls.

Mr Ngulube said government was spending a lot of money on by-elections that could be used to improve the social sector which included drugs in hospitals, books in schools, farming inputs among others.

He noted that wastage resources on campaign materials, allowances for civil servants and ministers and man hours of man power in government are lost because of by-elections.

He said a by-election is almost expensive than general elections as all the focus was in the area adding that this did not help improve the living standards of people.

Mr Ngulube said it would be good for the country if there was a provision in the new constitution to bar MPs that defect from one party to the other from re-contesting those seats.