By Isaac Zulu and Merlyn Mwanza
Socialist Party Central Province chairman Patrick Dube Tembo has said that the election results from Muchinda ward in Serenje district are an indication that the Dr Fred M’membe led leftist political party is gaining ground and is now a force to reckon with.
And Southern Province minister and UPND spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa said the clean sweep from the by-elections shows that UPND is breaking into former PF strongholds but that they will not deceive themselves that all is well for 2026 as they will continue working hard.
In an interview, Tembo said that the opposition Socialist Party has proved that it is a party to reckon with.
“This political party, the Socialist Party, has demonstrated that we have taken centre stage. We have recorded good results from the Muchinda ward by-elections and many other local government by-elections. This is a confirmation that the Socialist Party is now taking stage and an affirmation that the SP is a force to reckon with,” Tembo explained. “We are becoming popular by the day because of our political ideologies and manifesto, which is anchored on the promotion of equity and equality, among other core values.”
Tembo said that had the Muchinda ward by-election not been characterised by the electoral violence, the Socialist Party would have emerged victorious in the said local government by-election.
“That Muchinda ward by-election was characterised by political violence, which you are well aware of. The political violence that happened in Serenje district during campaigns in the run up to the by-election had contributed to voter apathy. Zambians do not want to participate in an election where the political environment is violent or hostile. And because of that, there was voter apathy. Otherwise, all things being equal, the Socialist Party would have scooped that local government by-election.”
And Mweetwa sais the elections meant that the citizens were appreciating the works of President Hakainde Hichilema in terms of free education, CDF and that going forward they are expected to perfect the FISP programme so that those in rural areas do not face the challenges they faced during this season.
And UPND Lusaka district deputy information and publicity secretary for mobilisation Costain Chilikwazi has said that the election results recorded in the just ended local government by-elections in Lupososhi, Chililabombwe and Serenje districts only go to confirm that the Patriot Front has been accepted and embraced by majority Zambians.
“This is an indication that the UPND administration has been accepted and embraced by majority Zambians. The loud mouth Patriot Front members have been proved wrong. The Patriot Front leadership has been rejected and this marks the dead end of the PF,” said Chilikwazi. “This signifies that the PF has reached a dead end. The Patriot Front is now a finished political organisation.”
And Patriot Front Central Province chairman Billy Sichamba has said that the Muchinda ward by-election cannot be used as a measuring tool for the Patriot Front downfall.
“The loss that the Patriot Front has recorded in Muchinda ward by-election, and these other by-elections in Lupososhi and Chililabombwe; were not conducted in a free and fair environment. Hostility and political violence characterised the said by-elections. Just a day before poll day, we were attacked by some UPND members. As things stand, I categorically say that the results recorded from the said just by-elections cannot be used as a measuring tool for the downfall of the Patriot Front,” said Sichamba.
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