KELVIN MBEWE, MELODY
MUPETA, JOHN CHAAMBWA
Kanchibiya, Milenge, Chinsali
SOME stakeholders participating in the March 1 ward by-elections are pleased with the transparency exhibited by Electoral Commission of Zambia in the verification process of ballot papers.
ECZ will be holding by-elections in Nakatambo ward in Chitambo district, Itapa ward (Chinsali), Manshe ward (Kanchinbiya), Buntungwa ward (Mufulira) and Mumbotuta ward in Milenge.
And ECZ commissioner Ndiyoi Mutiti has hailed political parties participating in the Manshe ward by-election in Kanchibiya for conducting a peaceful nomination and campaign process which she says is a huge contribution to credibility of the poll.
Speaking during the verification of ballot papers at Kanchibiya Civic Centre yesterday, Socialist Party chairperson for information and publicity Fletcher Kalobwe said the party was satisfied with the process.
United Party for National Development (UPND) Kanchibiya district trustee Kenas Muma echoed Mr Kalobwe’s sentiments.
And Ms Mutiti has implored political party agents and other stakeholders to pay attention to details that ECZ is providing to ensure the electoral process is credible.
She said this when she addressed political party agents during an election process awareness training by ECZ in Kanchibiya.
Kanchibiya district electoral officer Joseph Zulu said the verification process was meant to ensure transparency and consensus among stakeholders.
Four candidates are set to take part in the by-election necessitated by the resignation of Patriotic Front (PF) councillor Melvin Bwalya after he was employed as community health assistant in the Ministry of Health.
And Milenge district electoral officer Liusha Inambwae says failure to attend the ballot papers verification exercise by some participating political parties brings confusion during voting day.
Meanwhile, Chinsali received 2,500 ballot papers for the Itapa ward by-elections with returning officer Jonathan Phiri saying arrival of the documents assures the electorate that the poll will be held on Friday as indicated.
Mr Phiri said political party representatives from United Party for National Development (UPND), Socialist Party (SP), Citizens First, PF and Leadership Movement witnessed the verification process.
UPND Muchinga provincial vice -secretary for politics Febian Mate said the campaigns have been peaceful and is optimistic the election will be violence-free…https://enews.daily-mail.co.zm/welcome/home
