Five candidates have successfully filed in their nomination papers to contest the forthcoming Mpongwe Parliamentary by-election slated for February 28, while another five candidates are in the race to win the Livingstone seat.
In Mpongwe, former Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) member Gabriel Namulambe successfully filed in his nomination under the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) ticket before Returning Officer, Jaokim Mangwale at around 12:45 hours today.
After he filing his nomination, Namulambe said victory was certain for the ruling party in the Copperbelt Constituency.
He thanked Vice-President Guy Scott for accepting to field him on the PF ticket after resigning from the former ruling party MMD.
PF Campaign Manager for Mpongwe, Jean Kapata said the opposition had no chance of reclaiming the seat because Mpongwe residents wanted to work with the government of the day.
The MMD fielded Miniver Mutesa for the seat, which was lost when the ruling party convinced Namulambe to switch allegiances.
Mutesa told journalists after successfully filing in his nomination that his PF rival Namulambe would not be a factor because he had exhibited disloyalty to the people and he could no longer be trusted.
Other parties that fielded candidates in Mpongwe were include the United Party for National Development (UPND) and United National Independence Party UNIP.
Meanwhile, in the tourist capital, five candidates are contesting the Livingstone central parliamentary seat.
MMD’s Fred Siasuntwe was first to file his nomination at 10:00hours, followed by Regina Musokotwane of UPND at 12:00hours.
The PF candidate Lawrence Evans filed his nomination at around 14:00hours while UNIP’s Green Mwanang’ombe also successfully filing in his nomination at 14:30hours.
New comers Revolutionary Communist Party (RCP) candidate Angela Ikabongo made it five when she was declared legible to contest the seat by returning officer Elester Hazingi.
But George Muyaya, an independent candidate was turned down for turning up late for the exercise.
Speaking after their nominations, all candidates were confident of winning the seat.
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