By JULIUS PHIRI, ANDREW PHIRI and CHUSA SICHONE –

THE ruling Patriotic Front (PF) has scooped all the three parliamentary by-elections which were held on Tuesday in Petauke, Malambo and Mulobezi constituencies.
PF candidate in Petauke Central Dora Siliya recorded the widest margin after polling 12, 830 votes to retain the seat she held under the MMD. She was followed by UPND’s Allan Zulu who had 2,331 while Ignasio Phiri of UNIP received a paltry 259 votes.
Returning Officer Dulan Phiri declared Ms Siliya the duly elected MP around 02:25 hours yesterday at the Petauke Civic Centre amid jubilation from the PF supporters.
Speaking to journalists after being announced winner, Ms Siliya said she was happy to reclaim the seat and promised to further develop the area.
“Well, I just think that order has been restored, this was my seat and I’m very pleased that people have once again voted for me,” Ms Siliya said.
In Malambo, PF candidate Jack Shuma polled 5, 566 to become the new MP for Malambo Constituency beating his closest rival Peter Phiri of the UPND who received 3, 842 votes.
Independent candidate Florence Mwayopa was third with 438 votes while Jairos Mchenga of UNIP only managed 181 votes in the constituency’s 35 polling stations.
Returning officer Oscar Musonda who announced the official results at 03:52 hours said 10,133 had cast their ballot out of the 28,088 total registered voters while 106 ballots were rejected.
Mr Shuma congratulated his competitors for giving him a good race in the election and promised to foster development in Malambo.
Sports Minister Vincent Mwale who was deputy campaign manager thanked all the participating political parties for being peaceful and urged other constituencies to emulate the peaceful atmosphere that characterised voting in Malambo.
In Mulobezi, Returning Officer Fred Kapusa declared Patricia Mulasikwanda of the PF a duly elected MP after beating UPND’s Hastings Sililo with just 24 votes.
Ms Mulasikwanda polled 3, 337 votes against Mr Sililo’s 3,313 while Alfred Mandumbwa of UNIP got 81 votes with Alliance for Democracy and Development (ADD) candidate Collins Mbangu coming fourth with 69 votes. The Green Party’s Esau Mwanza was at the tail end with a paltry 61 votes.
Ms Mulasikwanda thanked the people of Mulobezi for having confidence in the PF and President Edgar Lungu.
She said her priority would be to provide clean drinking water by looking for donors to sink boreholes in the Constituency.
“I will work 24 hours to ensure that I give hope to the people of Mulobezi,” Ms Mulasikwanda said.
The win in Petauke and Malambo in Eastern Province brings the number of PF parliamentarians in the area to five out of 18 constituencies while the Mulobezi triumph increased the ruling party’s representation in the Parliament to four out of 17 constituencies.