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The opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) has congratulated the ruling Patriotic Front for winning the Mansa Central by-election but promised to do better in future elections.
UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema said the party suffered partly because of lack of established structures in the area.
Hichilema in a statement also paid tribute to losing UPND candidate Rosemary Mwiche.
Here below is the full statement:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
24th November 2013
OFFICIAL STATEMENT BY HAKAINDE HICHILEMA MANSA PARLIAMENTARY AND OTHER LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS
Country men and country women. Firstly congratulations to Dr Chitalu Chilufya and the Patriotic Front for scooping the Mansa Central by-election. Let me also congratulate our newly elected UPND councilors in Kasempa and the PF councilors in Bahati and Malambo as well as the MMD councilor in Kaputula in Kabwe and others I might have omitted. To all of you I say congratulations. To Rosemary Mwiche, we could not have asked for a better candidate.
Rosemary took a huge risk on behalf of UPND. From not having a candidate and solid structures in 2011, she offered to stand on our ticket. I take my hat off to you Ms. Mwiche for the courage you have exhibited in this particular instance and we urge you to continue.
You are a courageous woman from whom many candidates and women in particular could learn a lesson or two. Do not be discouraged by the margins, that is all part of politics. Those voters that voted for the UPND, also deserve our recognition.
These are the people that will carry the message forward and I am confident come 2016, this number would have gone up a hundred fold because of the hard work started by this group of people. I can only say I am grateful.
The people of Mansa, I cannot say how proud I am of you. First you received me very well, and secondly you have shown the entire country that you can hold a peaceful campaign. No incidents of harassment, let alone violence were reported.
Let us recognise the attitude you have portrayed in this election. To Percy Chanda, our chairperson for Labour and campaign teams throughout the country, you did your best. We have a lot of lessons to learn but for now thank you for taking time off to get into Mansa and other parts of the country to present the UPND programme of development which will surely be realised in 2016.
Let us soldier on colleagues and the sky will surely be the limit. We have used this opportunity to create structures. Let us go flat out and ensure we improve this situation. This election was lost due to many factors, but let us embrace the loss as UPND and plan for upcoming elections by carrying lessons from this particular election.
I can assure you that UPND has best and genuine message for the people of Zambia that is currently attracting attention everywhere, including Mansa where we could previously not get such votes. Thank you.
Hakainde Hichilema
President
UNITED PARTY FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Mansa Central bye election official results:
PF – Chitalu Chilufya 9,671,
FDD – Alfred Mwape 1,279,
MMD – Malama Kapolyo 1,103,
UPND – Rosemary Mwape 388 and
UNIP – Charles Mwelwa 162.
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