‘Premature’ Mansa Central campaigns anger MMD

01/10/2013

Movement for Multi Party Democracy - MMD.jpg

THE MMD has written to the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) requesting that the Patriotic Front (PF) stops engaging in premature campaigns in Mansa Central Constituency in Luapula Province.

MMD deputy national secretary Chembe Nyangu wrote to ECZ executive director Priscilla Isaac complaining over the alleged PF campaigns in Mansa Central.
Mr Nyangu said it was not fair that the PF had undertaken campaigns in Mansa District before the ECZ could declare the filing of nominations and polling dates for the by-election.
The Mansa Central seat fell vacant following the death of area Member of Parliament (MP) Kennedy Sakeni.
“Our local structures have been advised to strictly follow electoral laws before they can start to campaign. However, and strangely, the PF and its Government have already started campaigns,” Mr Nyangu said.
He cited the recent visit by Vice-President Guy Scott to the constituency, who he accused of having gone to the area under the guise of Government work.
He said several ministers were in the area campaigning in the name of doing Government work and had been covered by Government and private media institutions.
“This type of impunity in flouting the electoral laws is unacceptable to us and we protest against this sort of political behaviour in the strongest possible terms,” he said.