Political hopefuls swings in Feira campaigns
Lusaka, May 27, ZANIS ——-Three political parties out of the five participating in the fourth coming Feira Parliamentary by elections slated for June 22, 2013 have expressed confidence of scooping the seat.
Patriotic Front Deputy Secretary General Bridget Atanga said there is no doubt that PF will win the seat.
Ms Atanga said this is because the people of the constituency have trust and faith in the ruling party.
MS Attanga said the people of Feira have suffered a lot during the previous regime of the former ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD).
She said the area lacked development because the former ruling party neglected the area during its time in government.
She told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that the people of Feira have now realised that it is only the PF which is going to take development for the benefit of the local people.
And Ms Atanga says the PF is grateful with the support being rendered to the party from various traditional leaders in Feira district in Lusaka province.
Ms Atanga said senior chiefs are impressed with the current administration following massive developmental programmes which government has embarked on in Feira such as the construction of good roads and the promotion of tourism in the area.
And United Party for National Development (UPND) Deputy Spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa said his party will teach a lesson other parties who will be participating in the Feira parliamentary by election because the party candidate is a strong person in the area.
Mr Mweetwa told ZANIS in an interview that campaigns launched by the party in Feira are going on so smoothly adding that party President Hakainde Hichilema together with his team will be heading to Feira for a vigorous and aggressive campaign in the constituency this week.
He said so far the party is impressed with the peaceful campaigns conducted by political parties involved in the by elections.
He added that parties participating in the by elections should emulate the Lukulu-West and Kapiri Mposhi parliamentary by elections which were peaceful despite some reported pockets of vote buying.
And Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) Chairman for Elections Kenneth Chipungu hinted that the former ruling party should not be ruled out in the race because the candidate is a local person who has done a lot for the local people in the area.
Mr Chipungu stated that MMD is confident of scooping the seat and that this can be seen from the massive support the part received during the nominations on Thursday last week.
He said the MMD’s candidate has vast experience having worked as Councillor and Council Chairman for the people of Feira.
Mr Chipungu further cautioned parties to desist from involving themselves in vote buying ahead of the by elections.
He stated that campaigns should be issue based as opposed to electoral malpractices.
The five political parties vying for the feira seat are the Patriotic Front (PF) which is fielding in Patrick Ngoma, United Party for National Development (UPND) is fielding in Eurelaria Zulu while United National Independency Party (UNIP) has fielded in Charles Kanyama and MMD has Elias Phiri while NAREP is fielding Samuel Sikaonga.
The Feira seat fell vacant following the resignation Mr Patrick Ngoma from the MMD who crossed floor to join the ruling PF.