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Stakeholders praised for continued peace ahead of Mkushi North Parliamentary By- elections
Mkushi, July 12, 2013—-Mkushi District Electoral Officer Everity Ng’andu has praised electoral stakeholders participating the forthcoming Mkushi North Parliamentary By Elections for their peaceful conduct and adherence to the electoral code of conduct .
Mr. Ng’andu explained that his office has received overwhelming support from all participating candidates and other electoral stakeholders through the District Political Liaison Committee in observing the code of conduct.
ZANIS reports that Mr. Ng’andu said this in an interview in Mkushi, today.
He further explained that Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) in conjunction with key electoral stakeholders held a Youth Conference where participants resolved to uphold peaceful campaigns.
He added that the Conference also resolved among many other things to denounce electoral violence, importing of political cadres outside the district and avoid confrontations before, during and after the elections.
“ I wish to commend all participating candidates and other electoral stakeholders for exhibiting high levels of maturity since the official opening of political campaigns which has so far not recorded an form of violence or electoral malpractice”, he said.
Mr. Ng’andu who is also Mkushi District Council Secretary pointed out that the District Voter Education Committee (DVEC) has enhanced sensitisation campaign aimed at encouraging voters to turnout in numbers during the voting period.
He said the constituency is mountainous and polling districts are far apart which in most cases discourages voters to turnout in large numbers to go cast their votes.
“ As you wish to know, Mkushi North Constituency is mountainous and Polling Districts are far apart that in some instances voters have to commute to just go and vote hence this has led to apathy even during the 2011 Tripartite Elections”, he added.
Mkushi North Constituency has 11 wards with a total of 37, 967 registered voters with 57 Polling Districts and 71 streams.
The seat fell vacant following the defection of then Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) Member of Parliament, Mutale Musonda to the ruling Patriotic Front (PF), recently.
Six candidates are participating in the by election slated for July 25th with Albert Kawaya standing on the National Restoration Party (NAREP) while Felix Chisenga is contesting as an independent.
The ruling Patriotic Front (PF) is fielding Ingrid Mpande, United Party for National Development(UPND) has settled for Winter Libbohole.
Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) is defending the seat through Jonathan Kapungwe while United National Independence Party (UNIP) is floating Bernard Nsimbi.
