PATRIOTIC Front candidate Moses Chilando is lifted shoulder-high after successfully filing his nominations for the Katuba Constituency by-election at Muwanjuni Primary School yesterday. – Picture by MACKSON WASAMUNU.
By TEDDY KUYELA
THE battle lines for the Katuba parliamentary by-election have been drawn by seven candidates who yesterday filed their nominations to contest the seat in the February 25 poll.
In the fray are Moses Chilando of the Patriotic Front (PF), Jonas Shakafuswa of the United Party for National Development (UPND), Patricia Mwashingwele of the Alliance for Better Zambia (ABZ) and Joseph Mushalika of the National Restoration Party (NAREP).
Others are Shakespear Mwakamui of the National Revolutionary Party, Allan Malawo of UNIP and Cecil Holmes of the MMD.
The seat fell vacant after the death of the then member of Parliament, Dr Patrick Chikusu, who was a member of the MMD.
The nominations at Muwanjuni Primary School were characterised by a blend of fanfare and serious resolve by candidates and their supporters to win the seat.
Some unruly UPND cadres were brought into check by the police.
Mr Shakafuswa was the first to file his nomination around 10:30 hours in the company of UPND president Hakainde Hichilema and the party’s two vice-presidents Richard Kapita and Canicius Banda.
Mr Shakafuswa, a former MP for the constituency, said when he was an MMD legislator he left many development projects which he wants to complete if elected.
Mr Mushalika, accompanied by NAREP party president Elias Chipimo, was next to file his papers at about 12:00 hours.
Mr Mushalika appealed to the electorate to vote for him because he is an experienced politician who can take meaningful economic development to the constituency.
The NRP candidate, Mr Mwakamui, was escorted by party president Cosmo Mumba at 13:00 hours. His appeal is that the campaigns be peaceful.
The ABZ’s Ms Mwashingwele, who was accompanied by party president Frank Bwalya, filed her papers about an hour later, after which she urged the electorate to vote for her for massive development in the area.
The PF’s candidate, Mr Chilando, escorted by Vice-President Guy Scott, PF deputy secretary general Bridget Atanga, and other senior party members, was fifth to file his nomination papers around 15:10 hours.
Dr Scott urged the electorate to reject the opposition by voting for Mr Chilando.
He said he is happy that seven candidates will participate in the forthcoming by-elections as this will give the PF chance to prove its continued popularity.
“We are happy because the candidate we have adopted is popular and will deliver if voted for by the people,” Dr Scott said.
He called for issue-based campaigns.
UNIP’s Malawo followed at about 15:35 hours and promised to work hard to improve the living standards of people in the area if elected.
Mr Holmes of the MMD filed his nomination papers at about 16:15 hours, after which he appealed for electorate’s vote for him to address their challenges of infrastructure and water reticulation.
Returning officer Mutandi Mwanamwalye declared the seven candidates as eligible candidates to contest the Katuba parliamentary seat.
Meanwhile, some UPND cadres nearly fought with the police after they were denied entry into the school grounds.
Some cadres who became unruly were angry after police officers refused to allow them to enter the school grounds because the Electoral Code of Conduct only allows a candidate and nine supporters to enter the nomination centres.