By SYLVESTER MWALE in Mangango –

THE opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) says its candidate, Godwin Putu is on the verge of being elected as Member of Parliament for Mangango because of the good work the party had done.

UPND national coordinator, Batuke Imenda said in an interview that the opposition party had done its home work and nothing short of victory is assured.

Mr Putu is facing five other candidates from the MMD, Patriotic Front (PF), Alliance for Democracy and Development as well as United National Independence Party (UNIP).

He has been a councillor for Mangango ward since 2011 when he beat the PF candidate, Lyambai Lingweshi before being adopted to contest in the Tuesday’s parliamentary by-elections.

“Look, in 2011 Mr Lingweshi was beaten by our candidate by more than 1,000 votes, we are a stronger party now and I don’t know how that gap will be reduced at parliamentary level,” Mr Imenda said.

Mr Imenda said Mr Putu’s priority would be to work with other MPs bordering Mangango Constituency to upgrade the Kaoma-Lukulu Road.

He said the party was fortunate to have Misheck Mutelo for Lukulu West who was speaking passionately in parliament to improve the 195 kilometre stretch.

He said the people in the area had welcomed the message of the UPND because the ruling party had failed to fulfill its 2011 promise prior to the elections.

Meanwhile, UNIP provincial vice chairman Bornstone Mulemwa Lubasi says the oldest political party was eying a major upset in the Mangango by-elections.

Mr Lubasi warned other parties vying for the seat that they would be ignoring UNIP’s candidate Janet Chingumbe at their own risk.

“You must have seen this even in football where underdogs can upset the tables,” he said. “The advantage we have is that our candidate is the only woman in the race and she has received a lot of support.”

Mr Lubasi said the people of Mangango had realised that women were better MPs and time had come for them to vote for Ms Chingumbe, a former nurse.