By ROGERS KALERO
THE people of Kwacha and Kabushi constituencies should strongly reject the UPND in the 2026 elections because it has exhibited dictatorial tendencies by trying to impose their own candidates on the people despite the people having having elected Joe Malanji and his Kabushi Counterpart Bowman Lusambo respectively in the August 12 elections’’ the Patriotic Front (PF) has said
PF Kwacha Constituency Youth Chairman Ernest Mwansa said the UPND has not only exhibited dictatorial tendencies, but have also shown bitterness and personal hatred against Mr Mr Malanji and Mr Lusambo by using public institutions like the courts to nullify the election of the two PF Members of Parliament (MP) and them went on to bar them from contesting the by-election by using the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ)
In the twist and turns, which have characterised the Kwacha and Kabushi by-elections, Mr Mwansa said the UPND was now buying time through various applications at the courts so that the 90 days of holding by-elections expires which will mean that there will be no by-elections and people will have no representation in parliament for the next five years.
Mr Mwansa said the whole episode of nullifying the seats for Mr Malanji and Mr Lusambo and barring them to contest their seats was clear indication that the ruling party and its leadership was driven by hatred, bitterness and have no feelings for the people in the two constituencies who have gone more than a year without representation
“If the ruling party and its leadership respect democracy and the rule of law, it would have allowed the by-elections to go ahead with Mr Malanji and Mr Lusambo on the ballot papers after the nullification because they were eligible, but because they are driven by hatred and bitterness, they decided to fight the two PF MPs
“They allowed their selfish interests of personal hatred which they have against the two PF MPs to over-ride the interests of the people in the two constituencies who have now stayed for more than a year without a representative in parliament.
“They twists and turns in the cases of two constituencies may result in 90 days of holding by-elections getting expired which will mean that there will be no elections and people will have no representation in parliament for the next five years,’’ Mr Mwansa said
Mr Mwansa said it was shameful and disappointing that a ruling party can channel its efforts towards stopping two individuals from contesting a by-election when it has important things to do like delivering agricultural inputs, stocking medicines in hospitals and coming up with home grown solutions to achieve economic recovery
He said UPND decided to use the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to stop the Patriotic Front (PF) candidates in Kwacha Joe Malanji and his Kabushi counterpart Bowman Lusambo from re-contesting their seats if the elections were held on September 15 because it was fully aware that it would suffer a humiliating defeat in the hands of the PF candidates
He however warned that using public institutions to fight political rivals could be a recipe for anarchy and chaos because people will lose confidence and trust in public institutions and will end up taking the law into their own hands
He has since advised those serving in various public institutions to serve the interests of the people of Zambia as opposed to serving the interest of one individual politician who may want to use his or her position to serve his personal interests and create division in the country
Mr Mwansa said people must not use dictatorial tendencies to stay in power, but must deliver on their campaign promises to gain and hold the confidence of the people
“It is really unfortunate that we are seeing a situation where government or public institutions are now being used to fight political rivals of those in government. Any way, the ruling party decided to use the ECZ to stop PF candidates because they knew they would have suffered a humiliating defeat in the hands of PF
“But, let me warn that such kind of behaviour is dangerous because people end up losing confidence in public institutions and start perceiving them to be partisan. When that happens, it becomes a recipe for anarchy and chaos. So even those in public offices must know that they are serving the interests of the people, not one individual politician,’’ he warned
