Fri, 01 Feb 2013 13:26:17 +0000
Patriotic Front (PF) cadres yesterday continued to exhibit their unruly behaviour when they ignored the electoral regulations and filled the Mpongwe Civic Centre Hall despite being told that they were expected to be 100 meters away from the point where nominations papers were being filed.
Police led by Copperbelt chief Mary Tembo had a tough time pleading with the cadres to vacate the place after they had also blocked the passage to the room where the filing of the nomination papers was being conducted.
The behaviour of the PF cadres irked NAREP national chairman Joseph Musabika who said that before the PF came into power last year, Zambia enjoyed relative peace.
“The behaviour of the PF cadres is a threat to the peace we used to enjoy and it is worrying because as a ruling party, they are supposed to lead the way” Musabika said.
While other opposition political parties like MMD and NAREP observed the electoral rules, the PF cadres who were in the company of Copperbelt minister Mwenye Musenge, Sports Minister Chishimba Kambwili and were later joined by Vice President Guy Scott, ignored the rules in full view of Ms Tembo.
All the five parties contesting the Mpongwe seat successfully filed in their nominations with MMD fielding Meanver Mutesa while NAREP will field Breagan Njovu.
Other parties are UPND who will field Rapson Chilufya, UNIP (ken Kuneya) and PF who will field Gabriel Numalambe.
The seat fell vacant after Namulambe defected from the MMD to join PF.
