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MORE than 200 police officers will be deployed in Katuba Constituency ahead of the February 25 parliamentary by-elections.
Central Province commissioner of police Standwell Lungu said in Kabwe yesterday that currently both plain and uniformed police officers were already on the ground to maintain law and order as campaigns were going on.
Mr Lungu said the number of officers to be deployed would be capable of resolving any situation that may arise, and was confident that the campaigns would remain peaceful.
He said he was happy with the conduct of political parties taking part in the polls.
“I can confirm that over 200 police officers will be deployed in Katuba and we are confident that the team will be capable of handling any situation that may arise,” he said.
He urged political parties to remain peaceful and respect each other’s views.
Meanwhile, the Alliance for Better Zambia (ABZ) has received a boost ahead of the by-election following the women movement’s decision to rally behind the opposition party’s candidate in the heavily contested race.
The Non-Governmental Organisation Coordinating Council (NGOCC) and Zambia National Women’s Lobby (ZNWL) have declared their support for the only female candidate in the Katuba parliamentary by-election Patricia Mwashingwele as a way of increasing the number of women in decision-making positions.
The two organisations made their position known during the ABZ rally held in Chilo cha ba Lenje area in Chibombo District on Wednesday.
Speaking on behalf of the two organisations, NGOCC chairperson Beatrice Grillo said the low level of women participating in politics was a source of concern and unacceptable.
“There is need for the country to begin to gravitate towards the achievement of 50-50 representation for both men and women.
“It is unacceptable that while women comprise more than 50 per cent of our population, their participation has remained very low. We, therefore, commend ABZ for adopting a woman to contest the Katuba by-election,” she said.
Ms Grillo, who was represented by Albetina Musachi, the chairperson for FLAME, which is an affiliate of the NGOCC, appealed to political parties to mainstream gender equity in their manifestos and constitutions to enable more women to participate in politics and the country’s governance.
“While NGOCC is a non-partisan organisation, we will support the adoption of women to participate in politics and governance,” she said.
Ms Mwashingwele and ABZ president Frank Bwalya were grateful to the two organisations for the stance they had taken.
Other candidates contesting the Katuba parliamentary by-election are Moses Chilando of the ruling Patriotic Front, United National Independence Party’s Friday Malawo, Cecil Holmes representing MMD while the United Party for National Development is fielding Jonas Shakafuswa.
Others are National Restoration Party’s Joseph Mushalika and National Revolution Party candidate Shakespeare Mwakamui.
Times of Zambia
