By KETRA KALUNGA
Contrary to insinuations that Patriotic Front (PF) candidate for the Kabwata by-election Clement Tembo risked being disqualified, he is legally in the race according to the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) list of validly nominated candidates.
This follows views from Gears Initiative Executive Director, Macdonald Chipenzi that Mr Tembo risked being dropped because his adoption certificate was signed by PF acting secretary general (SG), Nickson Chilangwa whose appointment as deputy SG was allegedly illegal.
Mr. Chipenzi was referring to acting secretary to cabinet, Patrick Kangwa who purportedly revealed that former president, Edgar Lungu retired from active politics and as PF President on August 28, 2022.
Mr. Chipenzi contended that Mr. Chilangwa’s appointed was therefore illegal because it was done after Mr. Lungu had retired as party President, making Mr Tembo’s nomination certificate null and void.
However, according to the ECZ, Mr Tembo is legally in the race because he is on the published list of validly nominated candidates following lodging in of nominations. ECZ corporate affairs manager, Patricia Luhanga told the Daily Nation in an interview that the commission has published the list of authentically nominated candidates and that is their position on the matter.
‘’We have published list of validly nominated candidates and that is where we stand as the commission,’’ she said.
And Mr. Tembo said he was not shaken by the purported revelations and perceived outcome affecting his nomination because they were non-issue to him and the party. ‘’And it did not carry any water and that is why we didn’t say anything. We kept quiet focusing on campaigns and not rhetoric,’’ he said.
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