By SIMON MUNTEMBA
ANDREW Tayengwa’s victory in the Kabwata Parliamentary by election is confirmation of the confidence the people of Zambia have placed in the new dawn administration, UPND Secretary General Batuke Imenda has said.
And President Hakainde Hichilema said he was happy that no blood was shed during the voting process.
Mr Imenda said the victory not only signified a befitting tribute to the former parliamentarian Mr Levy Mkandawire, who died in a road accident, but was also an indicator that the people of Zambia were satisfied with the leadership of President Hichilema. He said in a statement that for the first time in many years, the people of Zambia had witnessed a by election without intimidation of the opposition by the ruling party and the police.
“All competing political parties crisscrossed the constituency, canvassing for votes without blood-letting,” he said.
Meanwhile, President Hichilema praised the people of Kabwata constituency for voting peacefully and for maintaining law and order.
Mr Hichilema said he was pleased that no pockets of violence and thuggery was reported on voting day in the constituency.
UPND Chairman for elections Gary Nkombo said the party was humbled by the show of confidence exhibited by the people of Kabwata in the UPND leadership.
Mr Tayengwa was declared winner of the tightly contested by-election by Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) after getting 13,574 votes out of the 27,677 votes casted, defeating his closest rival Patriotic Front candidate Clement Tembo who trailed with 11,192 votes, while Socialist Party candidate Tripher Ng’andu got 1,849 votes.
Economic and Equity Party candidate Chilufya Tayali got 420 votes followed by People’s Alliance for Change candidate Sydney Zyambo who garnered 222 votes.
Democratic Party candidate Fred Mubanga who got 124 votes, UNIP’s Engiwe Mzyece managed 63 votes, while Kennedy Muyowa of New Heritage Party got 46 votes with Patriots for Economic Progress candidate at the bottom with 30 votes.
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