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——Opposition Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) Mafinga Member of Parliament (MP) Catherine Namugala has attributed the loss by her party in the Mpongwe Parliamentary by-election to poor leadership in MMD.
Ms Namugala, however, congratulated Gabriel Namulambe for bouncing back as Mpongwe MP on the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) ticket.
Ms Namugala said in Parliament today during the 30-minute Vice President’s session question time that it was very unfortunate that the MMD has failed to defend the Parliamentary seat in Mpongwe, which she claimed was its stronghold.
“Mr Speaker Sir, MMD has dropped to number three in the Mpongwe parliamentary seat because of poor leadership in my party. This is very sad. However, I would like to congratulate the ruling PF and Mr Namulambe for retaining his seat on the ruling PF ticket,” Ms Namugala said.
In response, Vice President Dr Guy Scott counselled Ms Namugala and the entire opposition MMD to accept defeat because it has happened.
Dr Scott said in an election there are only two things – a win or a loss – and carry on in politics.
“It happens things fall apart in an election. MMD should accept defeat and thumbs that our PF candidate Mr Namulambe has emerged victorious in Mpongwe parliamentary election,” the Vice President said.
The MMD is in black and white engulfed with a serious leadership crisis that has deepened with some calling for the immediate removal of party president, Nevers Mumba.
Out of the 39 polling stations counted so far, Mr Namulambe has taken a comfortable lead with results.
Mpongwe has got a total of 48 polling stations but the contest was between the two front runners.
Provisional results indicate that the former MMD Chairperson for Elections, who is also former MMD Mpongwe legislator and now PF Mpongwe MP, Gabriel Namulambe, has so far amassed 4, 167 votes while his closest rival Rabson Chilufya of the United Party for National Development (UPND) has polled 2, 699.
Other candidates are MMD’s Miniver Mutesa who has polled 815 while Reagan Ndhlovu of National Restoration Party (NAREP) has only managed 554 votes.
Kenny Kuveya of UNIP trailed behind with a party 95 votes.
The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) is this morning expected to announce official results for the Mpongwe parliamentary that were held February on 28, 2013.
