The UPND campaign team in Kapiri Mposhi’s Chang’ondo Ward has condemned the alleged strategy by the ruling PF party to exchange their Chitenge campaign materials with electorate’s National Registration Cards (NRCs) and voters cards in the area.
Provincial UPND Secretary, Davy Siamuzyulu who is campaigning for his party in the area today told ZANIS in a telephone interview that a PF campaigner who he declined to name was this afternoon found with over 50 NRCs and voters cards allegedly exchanged with PF chitenge materials.
Mr Siamuzyulu further said he reported the matter to police adding that his party was aware that there are other perpetrators from PF reported to be engaged in vote buying in other areas of the district.
He said it was unfortunate that the campaigns in Kapiri Mposhi which have been peaceful all along could now result to such malpractices yet it has been the desire by all participating parties to have a free and fair election.
Mr Siamuzyulu also said that the ruling party has allegedly resorted to the vice of vote buying because the party has no support from the electorates in the area.
He further said he was confident that the police will act professionally in handling the matter stating that if the culprit is brought to book, then others engaged in the illicit electoral malpractice will refrain from the habit.
He however, appealed to the ruling PF party to ensure that they adhere to the electoral code of conduct in order to have a peaceful campaign process.
ZANIS efforts to get a comment from the PF officials failed by press time.