BY IRVIN MUYUMBWA
CONFUSON has rocked the forth coming Kabwata by elections following the reported withdrawal of the United Progressive People (UPP) candidate Francis Libanda with some political parties calling for fresh nominations and election date and others suggesting Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) should just go ahead as planned.
And Mr Libanda’s sponsoring party, UPP, has not heard or seen their candidate seen the reported withdrawal from the by-election.
Furthermore, the UPP says it has not received any official communication from its Kabwata parliamentary candidate Francis Libanda on his reported withdrawal from the by election.
UPP President Saviour Chishimba says efforts to reach the candidate have failed but some party officials last spotted him with a campaign vehicle on Friday, 7 January, 2022 at a shopping mall in Kabulonga.
Mr Chishimba says noting that there is a letter purportedly submitted to the Electoral Commission of Zambia, it is now expected that the commission will officially communicate to the party on the fact that it is 100% sponsoring Mr Lilanda’s candidature.
Mr Chishimba says once official correspondence is made by the ECZ, the party spokesperson would issue a comprehensive statement on the matter.
He says it remains the party’s genuine desire to be given the chance to work with the people of Kabwata for the transformation of the constituency into a model city.
And Patriotic Front’s Chishimba Kambwili has advised his party to insist on fresh nominations should the withdrawal turn out to be legit to avoid falling for a UPND trap.
He said any election out would be challenged successfully if the ECZ did not set fresh elections as provided for under the Electoral Act.
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