Mkushi residents vary over election preparations
Mkushi, July 6, ZANIS —–Several residents from various communities in Mkushi district have expressed mixed feelings regarding the ECZ preparations for the 25th July Mkushi North Parliamentary By-elections.
From Musofu Ward, Arnold Kabwe commended the ECZ efforts to whip up Voter interest by combining election publicity with theatre performances from Drama groups in the communities.
Mr Kabwe noted that the voter apathy was amongst the challenges that posed a threat to voter turnout for any election, adding that the ECZ was on track to address this challenge.
He expressed hope that the ECZ activities would be diligently applied in both Upper Musofu as well as Lower Musofu areas, saying that Upper Musofu presented the bigger challenge owing to the bad roads there.
Meanwhile, Maria Kapolyo of Kasokota area implored the ECZ to seriously consider the plight of the aged members of electorate, explaining that old people at Kasokota had to walk long distances to the polling station at Nkumbi.
Mrs Kapolyo who is 70 years old said that there was need for the ECZ to introduce more polling stations in Nkumbi Ward as remedy to address the long distances that old people had to endure.
She expressed hope that the appeal would be considered, saying that many senior citizens were eager to participate in voting during the Parliamentary By-elections as well as the Nkumbi Ward Local Government By elections to be held on 25th July.
Six candidates successfully filed in their nomination papers for the Mkushi North Parliamentary By-elections, while two candidates are contesting the Nkumbi Ward Local Government By-elections.
According to Mkushi District Returning Officer Kingsley Mutayachalo, candidates from five political parties and one Independent candidate would contest the Parliamentary By-election while two political parties would contest the Nkumbi Ward elections.
Mr Mutayachalo named the Parliamentary candidates as Ingrid Mpande of Patriotic Front (PF), Jonathan Kapungwe of Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) and Winter Libbohole of United Party for National Development (UPND).
Others are Bernard Nshimbi of United National Independence Party (UNIP), Albert Kawaya of National Restoration Party (NAREP) and Felix Chisanga an independent candidate.
For Nkumbi Ward, Mr Mutayachalo named the candidates as Amos Mbambiko of PF and Goliath Nyendwa of UPND.
The Mkushi North Parliamentary seat was declared vacant by the ECZ following the resignation of Mutale Musonda from the MMD, while Amos Mbambiko also resigned from MMD in Nkumbi Ward.