‘Have confidence in electoral process’

By KETRA KALUNGA

VOTERS should have confidence in the electoral process for the elections to be deemed free and fair, says Kabwe’s Bwacha constituency returning officer, Nelly Chimuka.

Ms Chimuka said it was important for political stakeholders in the Chililalila ward by-election to trust the electoral process for them to accept the outcome of the elections.

The Chililalila ward by-election which takes place tomorrow, fell vacant after the death of Patriotic Front (PF) councillor, George Chewe in April.

Speaking at a polling agents meeting, Ms Chimuka advised polling agents to work independently and called on political agents to display credibility in reporting what was happening on the ground. Ms Chimuka also urged political parties to allow the electorates vote freely by not influencing their decision.

And assistant returning officer, Ghally Musonda called on all political parties involved to ensure that the voting process ended well by avoiding giving wrong information on the electoral process. Mr Musonda said it’s on record that political parties that were not faring well during the voting process opted to leave the polling station even before the final results were announced by the returning officer.

The PF has fielded Edward Phiri as its candidate while UPND has settled for Yousuf Khondowe and Kelvin Mukule is standing as an Independent.