By JAMES KUNDA –

THE people of Masaiti Constituency on the Copperbelt will prematurely go to the polls on April 14, this year to elect their Member of Parliament (MP).
Initially, Masaiti was scheduled to vote for another MP during next year’s general election as normal circumstances stipulate that Parliamentary elections be held once every five years.
Under special circumstances, however, a Parliamentary election just like a Presidential or Ward poll, can be held as a by-election at a time when need arises.
When an incumbent MP dies or when the seat is nullified through a result petition, a Parliamentary by-election should be held within 90 days of such an occurrence.
The Masaiti by-election, in this instance, has arisen after the nullification of the seat which was held by the  Movement for Multi Party Democracy (MMD) MP Michael Katambo on account of electoral malpractices.
The High Court nullified Mr Katambo’s election after a petition from losing Patriotic Front (PF) candidate Sturdy Mwale, who contested the seat in 2011.
As he was not satisfied with the High Court verdict, Mr Katambo appealed to the Supreme Court seeking redress.
The Supreme Court, however, upheld the High Court’s verdict, hence the next seven days.
The former lawmaker has since jumped ship and will contest the seat on the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) ticket.
Mr Katambo was nominated to contest the seat ahead of two other applicants, Clifford Zulu and Edgar Chembo.
The former MMD law maker faces stiff competition from Independent Lyton Mokola and Peter Mumba of the United Party for National Development (UPND).
Others contesting the seat are Mobby Mutaya of the upcoming 4th Revolution Party and Lason Musumali representing the ‘old guard’,  United National Independence Party (UNIP).
The five candidates contesting the seat successfully filed in their nominations at the Masaiti district council on March 10, 2015.
The filing in of nominations which opened at 09:00 hours, was characterised by peace with all five aspiring candidates meeting the requirements set out by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ).
Mr Mokola whose election symbol is the Umbrella arrived at the centre as early as 09:00 hours with nine supporters  and two observers as per requirement of ECZ.
The independent candidate, Mr Mokola says,  he was  born and bred in Masaiti hence, he understands the challenges that the people in his area are going through.
“I pledge to improve the livelihood of people in my constituency if voted to Parliament. I know this area very well and the challenges facing the people are not  a new thing to me,” he says.
Mr Mokola pledged to focus on improving the road network, schools and health services particularly in the outskirts of the district where residents have not had access to such infrastructure in the past 50 years of the country’s independence.
The independent candidate was followed by the 4th Revolution Party candidate,  Mr Mutaya who filed in his nomination papers at 11:50 hours.
Mr Mutaya confidently said he had a 90 per cent chance of scooping the seat as he was an indigenous resident of Masaiti and knew how to alleviate  sufferings of the people  in the area.
“This is an area in which I am known very well and accumulating votes will not be a problem because the people know my abilities,” he said.
Among the many areas that require his attention when elected to Parliament, Mr Mutaya singles out agriculture as an area where people should be empowered to flourish and contribute to the country’s food security.
Next to file in his papers was Mr Katambo of the ruling PF, who arrived at 13:00 hours in the company of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs Minister Joseph Katema.
Mr Katambo who  filed in his nomination at 13:48 hours said he will continue with  developmental projects he initiated under the MMD.
“During my previous tenure, I embarked on several developmental programmes in this area and my re- contesting of this seat, is to see to it that these projects are brought to completion.
Mr Katambo said he prioritised road infrastructure development in the area to ease the movement of people and goods in the area.
This is also aimed at enhancing access to essential services by residents in the area.
The UPND aspiring candidate Mr Mumba, then arrived to file in his nominations just before 14:30 hours.
Mr Mumba said he would uplift the living standards of people in Masaiti by engaging them regarding challenges facing their livelihood.
“I hail from here and I know every corner of this constituency inside-out,” said the former Permanent Secretary of Home Affairs in the MMD regime.
“My pledge is to uplift  living standards of the vulnerable people who for a long time, have been left out of the developmental programmes taking shape in other parts of the country.
Mr Musumali of UNIP,  was  the last person to file his nomination at 15:35 hours after a struggle to ganner support.
The UNIP strongman however succeeded and also pledged to develop Masaiti into a modern vicinity where people will be proud to live.
Mr Musumali contends that the once powerful party still enjoyed the lion’s share of popularity in Masaiti and people should not be taken by surprise should he scoop the seat.
“I am confident of winning this seat and I am ready to serve my people in Masaiti if given the chance,” he said.
District retaining officer Modest Simuntala declared the filing of nominations officially closed at 15:41 hours signaling the official commencement of campaigns.
The campaign trail has been steady so far with each candidate going at full length to send their message across to the electorate.
The five have until 18:00 hours on April 13, to complete their campaigns and convince the electorate on why they should be given a chance to represent the people in the August House.
ECZ has been consistent with the call for peaceful polls and it is the duty of political parties to ensure that their candidates and supporters alike, conduct themselves in a manner befitting the country’s electoral code of conduct.