PF accuses UPND of early 2016 campaigns

The Patriotic Front (PF) in Kaputa district has accused the United Party for National Development (UPND) of embarking on early campaigns for the 2016 general elections by enticing voters with donations.

PF Kaleulu Ward Councilor, Webby Kawelwa alleged that the UPND through its member Elvis Nkandu has started undertaking background campaigns in Kaputa district ahead of next year’s elections.

He alleged that Mr. Nkandu who is also Zambia National Marketer Association (ZANAMA) President is making the donations to communities with the intention to stand as Member of Parliament (MP) during next year’s elections.

Mr. Kawelwa explained that Mr. Nkandu has hired some community members to do some works on the roads, and is sponsoring football tournaments and distributing mattresses to health centers.

He has since cautioned Mr. Nkandu to come out in the open and state his position rather than to continue campaigning in the background.

Mr. Kawelwa who was speaking in a walk in interview with ZANIS in Kaputa said the PF is not scared of Mr. Nkandu but that he should come out clearly and state his position.

He warned that Kaputa is a stronghold for the PF adding that he will just regret wasting money if he tried to stand on the opposition ticket.

But UPND Kaputa District Chairperson Belson Chansa has dissociated his party from Mr. Nkandu’s purported campaigns saying he was doing it in his personal capacity.

Mr Chansa said this was not the first time Mr. Nkandu had donated to the community adding that he has been doing similar things which is only aimed at helping the people.

Mr. Chansa who admitted having heard and seen the charity works by Mr. Nkandu in some wards however said he could not say whether Mr. Nkandu was UPND or not.

He said Mr. Nkandu has also not approached him to indicate whether he intends to stand on the opposition party’s ticket during the 2016 general elections.

He added that it could however be true that Mr. Nkandu wants to contest the Kaputa parliamentary seat but has not come out in the open to state which party he will stand on.

The UPND District Chairperson said the opposition party has also not opened nominations for people but noted that a lot of prominent persons have expressed interest to contest the seat on its ticket.

Efforts to get Mr. Nkandu who is based on the Copperbelt however failed.

Zanis