RESPECT ELECTORAL CODE IN CHILUBI POLL - UNIP
UNITED National Independence Party (UNIP) has urged all political parties taking part in the Chilubi Parliamentary by- election to observe the electoral code of conduct in order to have peaceful campaigns.
Southern Province Provincial Chairman Captain Robert Mukengami has observed that failure to do so will result in an electoral dispute like has been the case in previous by-elections.
Captain Mukengami said that there should a level playing field for all players adding that campaigners should avoid the use of tribal language.
He told the Daily Nation in an interview in Livingstone that his party has decided not to take part in the Chilubi Parliamentary and Nachikungu ward in Kalomo by-elections because by-elections are a waste of resources.
“Let all those taking part in the Chilubi by- election and elsewhere conduct their campaigns in a peaceful manner and observe the electoral code of conduct and campaigns should not be based on tribal lines but on issues,” he said.
“The level playing field must be favorable to all the players to avoid disputes and other things that go with elections,” said Captain Mukengami.
“Our not participating in Kalomo (Nachikungu ward) or elsewhere is that, right now, the Central Committee and members of the party are on standby mobilising the party for 2021. UNIP hás people in the group,” he said.
“We will not stake our money in these by-elections which to us are not productive because it is a sheer worst of tax payers’ money,” he lamented.
Captain Mukengami said that the focus of his party was to build the party ahead of the 2021 general elections.