UPND youths call for calm in Mangango

—–UPND youths in Kaoma district have urged those seeking to be adopted on the party ticket for the Mangango parliamentary by-election to be tolerant and exercise restraint.

Kaoma district UPND youth chairperson Joseph Kwanga says it is distressing that some potential contenders in the party are peddling tribal sentiments based on perceptions which they cannot even substantiate.

Mr Kwanga said the UPND’s National Management Committee has not yet selected any person to contest the Mangango seat and wondered why some aspirants are becoming jittery even before the selection process is finalized.

The UPND district youth leader was reacting to media reports in which tribal allegations were apparently made  by Likando Mubotana who is one of the five hopefuls seeking to be adopted on the UPND ticket for the August 19 parliamentary by – election.

Mr Kwanga said it was startling that Ms Mubotana was expressing tribal discontentment against Luvales and wondered why the aspirant was thinking that a Luvale would be adopted when the selection process was still ongoing.

He said the UPND in Mangango constituency was united and that the party would emerge victorious after the by-election whether a Luvale or any person from some other tribe is adopted for the forthcoming legislative vote.

Mr Kwanga said that no one should be discriminated against on the basis of tribe whether they are Luvale or otherwise as all ethnic groups are entitled to leadership positions.

He said when Ms Mubotana contested the Mangango seat in 2011 she campaigned among all the tribes, adding that it was folly that she was now against Luvales as quoted in the media.

Mr Kwanga urged aspiring candidates to embrace all tribes regardless of their own ethnic group as this was the core of the “One Zambia, One nation” motto which embraces unity in diversity.

And Mangango Ward UPND councilor Godwin Putu who is also seeking to be adopted for the Mangango parliamentary seat said the outcome of the adoption process would  not affect his support for the UPND.

Mr Putu said if he is not adopted he would still back the candidate the UPND’s highest organ will pick regardless of their tribe as the party was greater than him.

Meanwhile, Kenny Ndumba, who was campaign manager for former deputy ministers Mwendoi Akakandelwa and Taundi Chiseke, said former Kaoma Central Member of Parliament Austin Liato was not a factor in the UPND as he is only known as a former lawmaker in the locality.

Mr Ndumba was until recently Kaoma MMD district youth chairman before  he defected to the UPND last month following his expulsion from the former ruling party.