CSO expresses happiness with political parties conduct

CSO expresses happiness with political parties conduct

Chipata, June 28, ZANIS…Three Civil Society Organizations have expressed happiness with the conduct of political parties participating in the Chipata central parliamentary by-election schedule for July 25th.

Caritas –Chipata, Anti-Voter Apathy Project (AVAP) and the Youth Development Foundation (YDF) observed that the political parties exhibited peaceful and mature behavior during the nominations of five parliamentary hopefuls.

Caritas-Chipata Programs officer Mthaziko Zulu observed that nominations were done in a peaceful and mature manner.

Mr Zulu said in an interview with ZANIS in Chipata that there was need for the peace and maturity exhibited during the filing of the nominations to continue even as the candidates carried out their campaigns.

He urged all the candidates to abide by the electoral code of conduct and desist from ferrying cadres from outside saying this was a source of violence.

And AVAP Regional coordinator Maumba Ngoma said that it was now up to the political parties and their cadres to ensure peaceful and issue based campaigns.

Mr Ngoma urged all political parties to discipline their cadres and ensure that they did not engage in political violence which he said had characterized a number of by-elections.

He also called on the ECZ to encourage the voters to participate in the by-election saying they should ensure that voter apathy which recently characterized the Feira parliamentary by-election is avoided.

Meanwhile, Youth Development Foundation (YDF) executive director, Chinyoya Muyeye said the youths witnessed good conduct by people who went to support their candidates during the nomination process.

Mr Muyeye also commended the police for providing security as the candidates filed in the nominations at the nomination centre at Chipata Municipal Council.

Five candidates successfully filed in their nominations for the Chipata Central constituency parliamentary by-election.

These include the MMD’s immediate past MP Ruben Mtolo Phiri, PF’s Lameck Mangani, United Independence Party (UNIP) Elina Nyirenda, Kazembe Daka who is contesting on the National Restoration Party (NAREP) and Jean Nkunika Mazyopa who is contesting as an independent candidate.

The Chipata Central Parliamentary seat fell vacant following the nullification of the election of Ruben Mtolo Phiri by the Supreme Court on grounds of electoral malpractice.