Chifubu, Luena by-elections: who has what it takes?
By GETHSEMANE MWIZABI
ZAMBIANS in Chifubu and Luena parliamentary constituencies will be going to the polls on August 5 this year to elect new representatives barely three months after similar by-elections in Milanzi and Mufumbwe.
However, the way the two by elections have been occasioned has evoked contrasting emotions.
On the one hand, the Chifubu election has been prompted after the cold hand of death struck area member of Parliament Benson Bwalya, just as it did Misheck Bonshe in Mufumbwe and Reuben Chisanga Banda in Milanzi, and therefore attracts sympathy. It was unplanned and one that could not wait.
On the other hand, the Luena election follows the resignation of the independent MP Charles Milupi to lead a new party, the Alliance for Democracy and Development (ADD), just one year short of completing his term.
The timing is viewed by the public eye as not a life and death situation and therefore could have waited. After all, the next general election is only a breath away in 2011.
Moreover there has been considerable debate on calling for by-elections. The modern thinking is that such elections should be avoided if possible due to the cost and stress involved. On average, the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) spends between K1 billion and K3 billion to hold a single by-election, depending on the size of the constituency and number of polling districts.
Nevertheless the law requires that a by-election be held within 90 days once a parliamentary seat falls vacant in circumstances stipulated in Article 67 and 71 of the Republican Constitution.
One such is the death of an MP or indeed when a member ceases to be an independent MP or no longer belongs to the party that sponsored him.
Consequently campaigns have begun in earnest in Chifubu and Luena.
Except for skirmishes reported early last week in Chifubu, the campaigns have been relatively peaceful.
This may largely be on account of the ECZ, the police and the majority of the political parties repeatedly condemning the bloody campaigns and election violence witnessed in Mufumbwe.
Chifubu Constituency
Four candidates are contesting the Chifubu seat and these are Frank Ng’ambi of the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD), Susan Kawandami Patriotic Front (PF), Poko Mambwe United National Independence party (UNIP) and Brian Banda (ADD).
Chifubu has traditionally been an MMD seat since the country returned to political pluralism and was once held by late president Levy Mwanawasa and later Matthew Mulanda.
In 2006, the tables turned as opposition PF swept the Copperbelt to become the dominant party with Mr Bwalya taking the Chifubu seat after beating three contenders.
However, Bwalya fell out of favour with the mainstream party leadership after he and over 20 “rebel” MPs defied an order not to attend the National Constitutional Conference (NCC).
In this case, the PF will on August 5 be seeking to “recapture” its seat just as the MMD will be seeking to reclaim what was once theirs.
UNIP is trying to rekindle its popularity after two decades of being relegated to the backstreets in all but one province while ADD, the latest kid on the block, will not only be testing the political waters for the first time but also proving that it is not a regional party.
With a total of population of 100,000 people out of which 29,198 are registered voters in six wards and 39 polling stations, the expectations are high.
The area which includes Pamodzi, Chifubu, Kaniki, Sakanya, Kawama and Overspill is largely underdeveloped and is presented with challenges such as poor water and sanitation, bad road network, unemployment and poor health facilities.
Water reticulation in places like Kawama, Chifubu, and some parts of Pamodzi remains a serious challenge as people have no access to safe drinking water and proper sanitation.
“It’s a tragedy that after independence, we still have these problems. I don’t remember the last time I saw water running from a tap in my area,” says Harriet Kapongolo.
Several households have resorted to digging shallow wells, which is by no means a substitute for safe drinking water.
The local community also feels the link between the leaders and the constituents is lacking.
“It is hard to understand why vital information on women and youth empowerment has not been communicated to us. We need a good link between the Government and us,” says William Zimba of Chifubu Township.
Mr Zimba blames the opposition as it is bent on portraying Government in bad light.
“What surprises me is that we have had members of Parliament (MPs) and councillors who have failed to deliver on their promises. I wonder what those councillors do when they attend meetings at the civic centre,” said Mr Zimba.
Kaniki, which is a farming area, has no proper health centre and residents have to walk at least 14 kilometres to the nearest centre.
“We walk long distances to get to a clinic. It’s worse when we have emergencies. We want an MP who will deliver. How has the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) been used over the years?” said Pastor Manfred Jere, a father of six in Misaka area.
“I am not expecting a human being to do every little thing for me, but if I am empowered, poverty can be a thing of the past,” said Christine Malama, a marketeer.
Ms Malama, a widow and mother of three said she wanted an MP who would bring development to her area.
MMD candidate Frank Ng’ambi, a businessperson promises to initiate development that will create jobs and wealth for the people.
“People of Chifubu are tired of PF. The members are only offering lip service. There has been no development in the area because the opposition has been frustrating Government programmes. I will make sure development programmes are implemented effectively,” said Mr Ng’ambi
PF candidate Susan Kawandami said she was running for parliamentary office because she is concerned about the lack of development in Chifubu.
“I think I am the right candidate. I want to bring development to the area,” said Ms Kawandami a businessperson and farmer in Ndola.
Ms Kawandami is not new to politics after previously participating in a hotly contested election in the Constituency on a Heritage Party ticket in 2001. She came fourth out of 10 candidates.
ADD candidate Brian Banda said his priority was to modernise the Constituency by building a market and setting up social amenities for youths. He also pledges to address the water reticulation problem in the area.
UNIP’s Poko Mambwe, a retired teacher said he would also focus on improving the water system and creating employment.
He said the Constituency was under-developed due to lack of leadership, which he would provide.
“There is a lot of poverty that needs to be addressed. I am committed to address the unemployment issues because I stand on a party with a proven track record,” said Mr Mambwe.
Luena Constituency
Unlike Chifubu, there are five candidates vying for the Luena seat-ADD leader Mr Milupi, Muyunda Illilonga for United Party for National Development (UPND), Mwangala Maopu (MMD), Mutakela Mutakela (UNIP) and Sikatala Musole of United Liberal Party (ULP).
The political landscape in the Luena Constituency however is as much dependant on the social-economic matters at hand as on the vote of the conservative but dominant regions.
The constituency has at least 15,000 registered, the majority situated in Limulunga, Ushaa where MMD candidate Maopu comes from and Nangula where the Patriotic Front (PF) heavy weight and favourite Ndombo Litambo hails. Litambo was dropped in preference to Illilonga as pact representative.
Limulunga alone has slightly over 4000 registered voters, 500 of who are in the valley in Milupi’s home area.
UNIP candidate Mutakela is a businessperson who runs a shop in Limulunga while Illilonga (former Zambia Consumer Association executive secretary) is said to be from the same area.
Ushaa from where Luena derives its name meaning, “out of the woods” is in the northern forest and has 2,200 voters. This is also the home of former UPND MP Crispin Sibetta who lost the seat to Mr Milupi in 2006.
According to the locals, votes from the valley bear little consequence because the people are sparse and far apart.
The one who will win the Luena parliamentary seat must amass significant votes from Ushaa and Nangula, they said.
As for the issues of concern, the incomplete 50 kilometre road from Uwee to Mongu via Nangula is top of the agenda. So far, the road only covers 30 kilometres up to Nangula, and was badly executed.
Furthermore, despite Ushaa being a productive area the road is impassable. The longstanding Limulunga-Ushaa-Lukulu Road lost out to the Kaoma-Lukulu project.
A storm is also brewing over land and water use in Nangula where the channel has been blocked or restricted allegedly to service estates held by royalty.
In terms of voting, while the pattern during parliamentary elections has been inconsistent, at presidential level it has been decisively in favour of the MMD.
In 2006, Mr Milupi polled 6,410 beating his closest rival Silumesi Kalumiana (MMD) who got 4,450. Mr Milupi went solo after he was not picked to stand on the MMD ticket.
Incumbent Mr Sibetta got a paltry 186 followed by All People’s Congress (APC) Musole Sikaela (145) and Phillip Lubasi of PF (124).
Compared to 2001 when Sibetta got 2,798, followed by Austin Lubinda (PF) with 1,846 while MMD’s Walyuya got 1,629. Siyoto Kunyanda (FDD) polled 296, Kalimosho Mukelabai (ZRP) 171 and Maibwe Mwandamena UNIP 73.
For presidential elections in 2006 Levy Mwanawasa got 9,886 votes with Hakainde Hichilema (UPND) trailing at 410 and Michael Sata (PF) 403, Ken Ngondo (APC) 206 and Godfrey Miyanda Heritage Party (HP) 78.
In 2008, Rupiah Banda (MMD) received 5,821 votes, Hichilema 627, Sata 504 and Miyanda 41.
Quite clearly, the elections of August 5 will be quite significant. Not only will it be a litmus test ahead of the 2011 general elections but also a test of the participating parties and their leaders whether collectively, as alliances or individually they can recapture or claim any new seats.
It will also be an indictment on the holding of future by elections hours before a major election.
