PF still strong amid nullifications of parliamentary seats

Dear Editor, THE former ruling Patriotic Front (PF) is still strong despite losing some parliamentary seats through nullifications.

The nullifications follow the High Court verdict in the petitioned parliamentary seats by the losing candidates.

Some losing parliamentary candidates, especially those from the United Party for National Development (UPND) petitioned the outcome of the August 12 general election results in the affected constituencies.

The PF parliamentary seats which were recently nullified are Kabushi, Kwacha, Kasama Central, Lunte and Nakonde, among others. On the other hand, the election of Tasila Lungu Mwansa, Miles Bwalya Sampa and Christopher Shakafuswa of Chawama, Matero and Mandevu respectively were upheld a fortnight ago by the Lusaka High Court.

However, none of the 10 parliamentary seats petitioned in Eastern Province by the UPND losing candidates were nullified by the High Court as of last Friday.

The upholding of the PF parliamentary seats which were petitioned by the UPND’s losing candidates entails that the grounds for petitions were not credible to warrant the nullification of the seats.

I therefore wish to rebut the assertions from some individuals and the civil society organisations that the former ruling party has been weakened by virtue of losing the parliamentary seats through nullifications.

If anything, the former ruling political party is still strong.

By and large, the UPND should not be overconfident, let alone brag that the party would scoop all the parliamentary seats in the forthcoming by elections.

It is wrong to underestimate the PF's chances of retaining the seats in the forthcoming by-elections because it is still a strong political force to reckon with.