Five parties successfully file papers for Solwezi Central seat

Five out of six candidates contesting the Solwezi Central seat have successfully filed in their papers at the just ended nomination day.

NAREP candidate failed to file in the papers as the candidate did not show up by 09.00 at Solwezi civic centre which was the centre for filling in nominations.

But NAREP National Secretary Jevan Kamanga told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that the party did not give the candidate an adoption certificate because he did not follow proper procedure.

Reverend Kamanga who did not disclose the name of the candidate said the candidate did not meet the party standards hence he was not endorsed.

UNIP candidate Mary Katiki was first to file her papers after NAREP.

The PF has fielded Newton Malwa who was second to file in his papers at around 11.00hrs

By 12 hours, the United Party for National Development (UPND) was in confusion as two aspiring candidates showed up to file in their nomination papers.

Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) officials sent back the two, Dawson Kafwaya and former area Member of Parliament Watson Lumbe and advised the UPND leadership to put their house in order before their candidate could be allowed to file in the nominations.

However, the UPND managed to file in their nomination papers as the last after resolving their earlier dispute.

They party settled for Dawson Kafwaya who successfully filed in his papers.

And former Solwezi Central MP Lucky Mulusa is recontesting the seat on the MMD ticket and successfully filed in his papers at 1300.

The forum for democracy and development (FDD) is also contesting the seat and its candidate Nathan Mulonga successfully filed in his papers at 14 hours.

ECZ Returning officer Sara Lunda officially closed the nomination centre at around 1503 hours.

All the candidates have promised to foster development in the constituency.

The Solwezi Central seat fell vacant following the nullification of results in the 2011 polls by the courts of law.

The By-election is slated for September 11, 2014.