Chilanga by-election litmus test for UPND

THE Chilanga by-election will be a litmus test for the UPND’s self-acclaimed growing popularity because we will field the strongest candidate who will crush them, Lusaka Province PF chairperson Horance Longwe has warned.

Mr Longwe said the defeat will send a warning that the PF was not slowing down but meant business.

Speaking to the Daily Nation yesterday, Mr. Longwe said the development in Chilanga where the MP Keith Mukata had been convicted and sentenced to death was sad.

He however noted that the vacancy provided an opportunity for people to judge which political party was more popular than the others as there had been too much rhetoric among players form the opposition.

“The beauty about PF is that we are a party that is prepared for eventualities everywhere. It is unfortunate that the former MP has been convicted but we have to move on. We are looking forward to the by-election and as a party, we are prepared,

“We will do the required which is identifying the candidate that will win us the seat and when time for campaigns come, we will be there to participate,” he said

He challenged what he termed as “mushrooming briefcase political parties” not to chicken out but test their popularity by participating in the by-election.

“All opposition political parties are talking about how unpopular the PF has become but the truth is that it is not up to them to measure our popularity but the people of Zambia as they are better placed for that,” he said