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Six candidates have successfully filed-in their nominations in the Mangango constituency parliamentary by-election set for August 19, 2014 in Kaoma district, western province.
All the six candidates were accompanied by their party officials and members declared themselves ready for the political battle .
Meanwhile, tight security by the Zambia Police characterized the nominations which were violence -free.
The candidates that have filed the nominations are Rodgers Lingweshi of the ruling Patriotic Front, MMD‘s Charles Mwenzala and, UPND’s Godwin Putu.
Others are Naluwa Mwene of the Alliance for Democracy and Develoment (ADD), UNIP’s Janet Chingumbe and Mukumbuta Kabuyana of the Fourth Revolution Party.
Returning Officer Kingsley Mtayachalo announced that the candidates had successfully filed in their nominations and immediately warned them to adhere to the Electoral Code of Conduct as they embark on their campaigns.
MMD Chairperson for Elections Kenneth Chipungu claimed victory for the party’s candidate because he previously served as a councilor for the area.
“Our candidate has been a councilor before so you don’t expect him to fall but to move to another level which is MP”, Mr. Chipungu said.
Ruling Patriotic Front (PF) chairperson for Elections Sylvia Masebo said the party had not ‘imported” a candidate but a local resident who is familiar with the sufferings of the people.
Ms. Masebo said Mr. Lingweshi, a former civil servant had wisdom and served as a civic leader in UNIP and MMD governments as a Councilor for Mangango Central Ward.
She said the party structures and members in Mangango constituency unanimously agreed to pick Mr. Lingweshi as they all wanted real development to trickle down to the grassroots through the government of the day and under the able leadership of President Michael Sata.
Ms. Masebo, however, observed that people in Mangango constituency were in favour of former MP, Robert Taundi Chiseke but because of legal issues surrounding him (Chiseke), the ruling party made a change in consultation with the people and the party leadership.
ADD leader Charles Milupi has meanwhile condemned violence that had marred previous nomination exercises and expressed gratitude in the manner the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) had managed to facilitate the filling-in of nomination papers in Mangango.
UNIP candidate Janet Chingumbe charged that male MPs voted in the past had lamentably failed to deliver to the aspirations of the people of Mangango.
Ms. Chingumbe appealed to the electorates to vote for her and give her a chance this time around in order to bring development closer to the people as she hails from the area.
PF National Chairperson Inonge Wina hoped that the forth-coming Mangango parliamentary by-election will reflect the peace Zambia was enjoying in view of the 50th independence anniversary.
Ms. Wina appealed to other participating political parties in the by-election to avoid character assassination, slander and personal vendetta as they are detrimental to Zambia’s democracy.
“We don’t want elections based on violence, personal vendetta and slander. I’m happy that this filing in of nominations here at Mangango Polling Centre was violence-free ”, she said.
The Mangango seat fell vacant following the nullification of the election of Robert Chiseke by the Supreme Court.
