Peaceful election pleases Kaoma stakeholders

—-Kaoma Central Constituency Returning officer, Kingsley Mtayachalo, has commended voters and stakeholders for conducting the presidential by-election in a calm and peaceful manner.

Announcing the results of each presidential candidate yesterday at around 21:04 hours at Kaoma civic centre in Western province in the full view of various political party representatives and Transparent International Zambia observers, Mr Mtayachalo said   Hakainde Hichilema of UPND got 6, 704 votes while his closest rival, Edgar Lungu of the Patriotic Front, got 1, 291 votes.

Mr Mtayachalo said 4^th Revolution party’s Eric Chanda got 38 votes; Tilyenji Kaunda of UNIP got 35 votes, followed by Elias Chipimo of NAREP with 30 votes. Others are MMD’s Nevers Mumba who got 22 votes, Edith Nawakwi of FDD with 15 votes, followed by Godfrey Miyanda’s Heritage Party with 12 votes adding that Peter Sinkamba of Green Party with 06 votes, Ludwig Sondashi of FDA who got 05 votes, and Dan Pule of CDP who got 04 votes.

Mr Mtayachalo said 89 ballot papers were rejected as invalid and there were no disputed ballot papers.

He said there had been delays in the collection of ballot boxes from various polling stations in the constituency due to the bad terrain that was compounded by the heavy rains that characterised the area especially on the polling day resulting in a low turn-out of voters in many parts of the constituency.

Mr Mtayachalo said Kaoma Central Constituency had 33, 968 registered voters with 43 polling stations and 8, 227 voters managed to cast their votes on the polling day.

And shortly after announcing the results, PF Kaoma District Political Secretary, Chingi Kavindama, expressed optimism that despite PF presidential aspirant, Edgar Lungu, amassing low votes in many parts of the Western province, he will still emerge winner in the race to Plot One and requested other political parties in the race to accept the result as they will be declared by the Electoral Commission of Zambia.