Confusion: 2 candidates turn up to file-in under UPND in Solwezi

There was confusion on Tuesday during the filing in of nominations for Solwezi Central by-elections when two candidates turned up to file in on opposition UPND, reports Zambian Eye Correspondent.

Former Member of Parliament Watson Lumba and and Local Businessman Dawson Kafwaya both turned and wanted to file under UPND. The confusion arose as the party had not clearly explained which candidate had been selected. Electoral Commission of Zambia Returning Officer Serah Lunda had to turn away both candidates to iron out the issue.

The party National Chairperson Mutale Nalumango had to convince Lumba not file in. UPND had difficulties in filing in their nominations after two candidates Watson Lumba and Dawson Kafwaya went to file in. And later in the day UPND settled for Dawson Kafwaya who successfully filed in his nominations.

And five candidates who include MMD’s Lucky Mulusa, UNIP’s Mary Katiki and PF’s Newton Malwa filed in their Nomination papers before Returning Officer Serah Lunda while others include UPND’s Dawson Kafwaya and Nathan Mulonga FDD.

PF candidate Newton Malwa, successfully filed in his nomination papers at the Civic Centre at about 12:20hrs. Malwa arrived the Civic centre with a good number of Party members ousting that of UNIP at 11:00 hours.

The United National Independence Party (UNIP) were the first political party to file in the nominations. UNIP candidate Mary Katiki 44, who was the first Candidate to file in her Nomination arrived at the Civic Centre at 09:45 and completed the filing in of nominations by 11:00hrs.

The National Restoration Party NAREP did not show up for the nominations for unknown reasons. NAREP was expected to file in first ahead of other political parties did not show up, up to 15:00hrs the closing time of filing in nomination papers.

The Electoral Commission of Zambia has set 11th September, 2014 as the date for polls in the Solwezi Central Parliamentary By-election.