President Lungu calls for peace even after elections

President Edgar Lungu has praised political parties taking party in today’s Chawama, Masaiti and Nsenga Hill parliamentary by-elections for conducting peaceful campaigns.

President Lungu said peace was cardinal in the nation and urged political parties to exhibit the same behaviour and attitude even in future elections.

He said this today when he cast his vote at Crossford Polling station commonly known as Andrew Mwenya in Chawama constituency in Lusaka.

Mr. Lungu, who voted at about 10:00 hours was accompanied by Chawama PF campaign manager and Matero constituency Member of Parliament Miles Sampa, Lusaka Province youth chairman Kennedy Kamba and other senior Patriotic Front (PF) members.

President Lungu also urged political parties taking part in the three by-elections to embrace those who will lose because this was acceptable in any given democratic nation such as Zambia.

ZANIS reports that President Lungu further said Zambians should always cherish peace which the nation has enjoyed for many years.

And presiding officer at Crossford polling station Emmanuel Makalila said by 10:00 hours, only 150 voters had voted.

Mr. Makalila disclosed that the polling station was characterised by low voter turnout.

He said people were voting peacefully at his polling station.

And Lumumba C market assistant presiding officer Namiluko Lungowe said the voter turnout was slow in the morning but hoped that it would improve later.

Ms. Lungowe said about 70 voters had cast their vote by 10:00 hours and described the atmosphere as peaceful.

Meanwhile, assistant presiding officer for Chawama site office polling station, Ernest Siazyondo said only 99 electorates had voted by 10:00 hours.

Mr. Siazyondo said the low voter turnout had characterised the voting process in Chawama constituency.

He however said the voting was going on well without any disturbance.

At Moto Moto B polling station, Jailos Mwamba said only 60 electorates had voted by 09:00 hours.

According to the 2011 voters’ register, Chawama constituency has 69, 228 registered voters out of which 37,135 are male while 32,093 are female.-Zanis