Worst elections ever! – UPND

These are the most poorly organised elections Zambia has ever had, the opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) has charged.

And Forum for Democary and Development (FDD) presidential candidate, Edith Nawakwi has bemoaned the extreme poverty levels in the country, which she says is affecting her party’s election campaign program.

Adressing the media shortly after attending the Electoral of Commission Zambia (ECZ) presidential candidate briefing on behalf of UPND candidate Hakainde Hichilema, party secretary general Stephen Katuka said:

“Thise are worst elections ever held in Zambia. Just look at the issue of Malawian registered voters. Look at the exorbitant nomination fees. This is bad,” Katuka told journalist after being asked if UPND would concede defeat if they lost the elections considering the controversy surrounding the printing of ballot papers and the Malawian registered voters allegation.

“We have tried to raise a lot of issues with the ECZ but they said they shall call us next week. Today’s briefing was specifically meant to brief candidates,” he he said. “The other issue we raised was the limiting of number of supporters on the nomination day. This will be a big political event but ECZ are saying they shall only allow 100 supporters outside the Mulungushi International Conference Center and 20 inside the nomination center.”

Earlier, the FDD leader Edith Nawakwi walked out of the briefing just after President Lungu left.

“We have walked out; we have left them there still deliberating. We are rushing to mobilize nomination fees for almost all our candidates there is extreme poverty in this country and we are affected as FDD,” said Nawakwi who was accompanied by party spokesperson Anthonia Mwanza.

The briefing which was attended by President Edgar Lungu and Vice President Inonge Wina was hosted by the Electoral Commission of Zambia at Lusaka’s Intercontinental Hotel.

Others who attended the  briefing are Green Party’s Peter Sinkamba, United Progressive Party candidate Dr Savior Chishimba, Patriotic Front’s Davies Chama and Frank Bwalya and UPND’s legal affairs chairman Jack Mwiimbu. The Rainbow Party President Mr Wynter Kabimba was represented by his official.