UPND pressure group wants more women candidates
A PRESSURE group has emerged in the UPND in Southern Province comprising senior party officials and youths demanding 40 per cent adoption of female candidates.
The same group has asked the National Management Committee (NMC) to consider adopting female candidates who performed well during primary elections.
The group said it wasbhigh time the party fulfilled constitutional provision of equal representation of women in leadership.
This is contained in a statement issued to the Daily Nation in Choma yesterday.
The pressure group charged that females candidates who performed well in Chikankata, Gwembe, Livingstone, Katombora, Monze Central, Pemba, Sinazongwe and Pemba constituencies must be considered.
"Women who are being marginalized by men, even when they did very well in their primary election at an expense of men's corruption but emerged victorious like for Mapatizya, Kazungula Council who was insulted by her male counterparts must be considered for adoption.
"The same must be considered for Chikankata, Gwembe, Namwala, Livingstone and Sinazongwe otherwise this year's is a serious matter," the statement said.
However when contacted, UPND Provincial Chairman Billiard Makwembo's mobile phone went unanswered.
Information and Publicity Secretary, Neto Halwabala, stated that he was on his way to Lusaka.
The UPND is scheduled to announce adopted candidates for parliamentary, mayoral and council chairpersons.