PF ECLIPSES UPND IN NORTHWEST POLLS

THE Patriotic Front has yet again eclipsed the UNPD in the by-elections in its stronghold by grabbing two of the three contested ward seats.

In by-elections held on Thursday, the PF got two local government seats which were formerly held by the opposition UPND, in what was hitherto considered opposition stronghold. This is out of the three seats which fell vacant following the resignation of UPND councillors. The two seats include Nkenyauna in Kasempa and Liyovu in Zambezi respectively. In Solwezi’s Kamalamba ward the UPND candidate Benjamin Nkaka polled 1,270 votes against the PF candidate Patson Kyaba who only managed to poll 1069. In Liyovu, the PF candidate Lawrence Muzambenu whitewashed his UPND rival Kakoma Zamba after polling 976 votes against 436 votes. And in Kasempa’s Nkenyauna ward, the PF candidate Kilan Matolokoshi polled 553 votes against his elder brother Kipaila Matolokoshi who managed 499 votes. At around 22:10 hours, returning officer Newton Sakala declared Kilan Matolokoshi as duly elected councilor for Nkenyauna. “With the powers vested in me, I therefore declare said Kilan Matolokoshi as duly elected councilor for the Nkenyauna ward,” Mr Sakala said. And speaking to journalists shortly after being declared winner, Mr Matolokoshi promised to fulfill his campaign promises and thanked the electorate for ushering him into office.