UPND CANDIDATES PROTEST HIGH FEES

“K5000 is too high and it is like they want to get rid of some of such,” the candidates who did not want to be named for fear of victimization said.

However, the UPND has defended the K5, 000 application fee for UPND aspirants for positions of Members of Parliament (MPs) or Mayor which is meant to weigh the capacity of individuals vying for public office.

According to the opposition party, the move would also help the top brass assess the ability of applicants to fund their campaigns if they were adopted.

UPND Copperbelt information and publicity secretary Lawrence Mwanza said the party had learnt lessons from the previous elections where some people with no capacity were adopted.

He said such individuals failed to fund their campaigns and instead turned to the party for assistance.

In an interview in Kitwe yesterday, Mr Mwanza said it was surprising that many people who were seeking adoption on the party ticket had no capacity and were not even on the ground.

"One of the qualifications to be adopted on the UPND ticket is to be loyal to the party, to have capacity to fund your own campaigns if adopted and to be on the ground and have the support of the people.

"But it is shocking that most people want to be adopted, but are not known on the ground and have nothing to start the campaign with.

"So it is for this reason that we decided to peg the application fee for those aspiring to be Members of Parliament and Mayors on K5, 000. We want people with capacity, not people with nothing," he said.

Mr Mwanza also urged the aspiring candidates and members to go on the ground to campaign for the party and President Hakainde Hichilema so that they could set the stage for victory in the August elections.

He said it was important for aspiring candidates and officials to convince the electorate to vote for Mr Hichilema who would work hard to achieve economic recovery and national development.

Mr Mwanza said Zambia's hope of economic recovery was in the hands of Mr Hichilema who has a good plan to end poverty and promote food security through pragmatic policies.

"As we get closer to the August 12 elections, let us ensure that we work hard and convince the electorate that the UPND is the party of the future which will take Zambia forward under the most capable hands of President Hakainde Hichilema.