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Float Single Opposition Candidate In By-Elections
NATIONAL Restoration Party (NAREP) president Elias Chipimo Junior has proposed that opposition political parties should agree on fielding one candidate in future nullified by-elections.
There have been a string of parliamentary and local government by-elections caused by nullification of 2011 results on account of electoral malpractices.
Mr Chipimo said fielding one candidate is the only way the opposition can maintain the number of seats held by opposition parties in Parliament.
He said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that the opposition should learn to work together and field candidates who would not be biased towards their respective parties.
“As opposition, we should be able to sit down and find suitable candidates who will not favour a particular political party,” he said.
He said as long as opposition parties continue to contest nullified parliamentary seats individually, they are likely to be defeated by the ruling party.
The NAREP leader said his proposal is well intended and meant to strengthen the opposition.
Mr Chipimo, however, said by-elections that arise as result of death can be contested by individual political parties.
He agrees with Alliance for Better Zambia president Father Frank Bwalya, who said the opposition should consider fielding a common candidate in by-elections.
MMD president Nevers Mumba said the proposal of a common candidate should be discussed behind closed doors by interested parties.
Mr Mumba said, through his spokesperson Muhabi Lungu, that if the proposal is agreed to, there should be modalities no how to decide which candidate to field.
UPND president Hakainde Hichilema declined to comment on the proposal.
Posted by
Fundundu
January 11, 2014 at 7:36 am
HH lit all le
Ndagambwa
January 11, 2014 at 9:03 am
Chipimo shut up & u shud start thinking abt how u going to loose to HH in 2016..
joni chi
January 11, 2014 at 10:56 am
Then you are no longer called opposition
DK
January 11, 2014 at 10:58 am
Bright idea but not pa Zed tetifibombe nakalya!
Isaac
January 11, 2014 at 11:08 am
It can work and it will not work.
chile1
January 11, 2014 at 1:16 pm
It cnt work,koz hh would want 2 field his own candidates,why do u think he is even mute on da matter?
icinshikululwa
January 11, 2014 at 9:30 pm
Chipimo; just work hard; you are on your own. Whom are you going to work with!? Ba HH? Those are selfish luzaz. Wait and see how selfish will finish HH and UPeND.
kayula
January 12, 2014 at 7:11 am
why forming so many political parties in the first place? why do we always fail to learn from the past? lets change the name opposition it may help our country
systems
January 12, 2014 at 12:42 pm
BREAKING NEWS
FORMER COPPERBELT PF YOUTH SECRETARY CHANDA KABWE APPOINTED MUFULIRA DC
surprised!!!
January 13, 2014 at 9:05 am
DISAGREE. Opposition parties should develop election manifestoes that respond to the electorate’s expectations and successfully sell them. Opposition parties should recruit and woe potential voters and get them to be long term dedicated members. Short term solutions such as mergers and alliances are an illusion.
Lovemore
January 13, 2014 at 5:10 pm
HH is our only hope in Zambia. That’s the fact!