Lameck Mangani, the embattled Patrotic Front (PF) parliamentary candidate for Chipata Central who recently won a Supreme Court nullification of the seat has said he would apply to be adopted in the forthcoming by-election.
He said from Chipata that he was the most preferred candidate because he had just managed to convince the Supreme Court to overturn the September 2011 election.
Mangani and three other senior party officials in eastern province was suspended from the PF for indiscipline, but the deal was lifted after a party disciplinary committee decision.
“Actually, I have been given a heroes’ welcome today in Chipata when arrived after the nullification of the seat. I will apply under the PF to be adopted because this is my seat,” he said.
Mangani said he arrived at Msekera area where I live around 11:30 hours and was received by PF who had braved the scorching sun to give him a thunderous welcome.
“The people who welcomed me lifted me shoulder high and you this is sign of popularity in itself and it puts me as forerunner in the adoption process of the PF on who should contest the by-election when the date is announced,” he said.
Mr Mangani he was happy with the outcome of the petition in which the Supreme Court nullified the election of Mtolo Phiri.
“I am very happy that you have welcomed me in numbers and in addition, I have to thank you all and the people who supported me during the petition period in the courts of law,” he said.
Mangani said the altercation he had with senior members of the PF was history and he was now looking forward to re-capturing his seat.
Mangani defected from the MMD just before the 2011 general elections to join the PF where he was adopted for the Chipata Central constituency seat but he lost to the MMD candidate whose victory he petitioned citing electoral malpractices.
Mr Mangani said the nullification of the Chipata Central seat was a lesson to the MMD that corruption does not pay during elections.
However, insiders have said Mangani may not be adopted because the PF was looking at other people because Mangani was being considered to be an MMD member.
The sources said four individuals had shown willingness to contest the Chipata Central constituency seat on the PF ticket.
The candidates include Lameck Mangani, a Chipata based businessman Moses Mawere, former Kasenengwa Member of Parliament Timothy Nyirenda, and another Chipata based business executive Hanif Badat.
A fierce battle is expected to ensue among the PF candidates because all of them are not willing to give way to other contenders.
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