Finances, internal wrangles force NRPUP to pull out from all by-elections AS the country anticipates the election of new leaders across the country in the forthcoming by-elections for two parliamentary seats, one mayoral and 11 local government seats, the main opposition party has announced it won’t take part in any of the polls. The Electoral […]

Finances, internal wrangles force NRPUP to pull out from all by-elections

AS the country anticipates the election of new leaders across the country in the forthcoming by-elections for two parliamentary seats, one mayoral and 11 local government seats, the main opposition party has announced it won’t take part in any of the polls.

The Electoral Commission is set to hold polls on November 5, for Lumezi North and Mandevu parliamentary seats, Mbala mayoral seat, and 11 local government seats.

The 11 wards are: Lungwishi in Mansa, Makaba and Nkonge in Chipili, Nachikufu in Mpika, Lubaleshi in Kanchibiya and Maako in Kasempa.

The rest are Siluwe, and Upangoma in Kalabo, Mfunda in Sioma, Mulimambango in Sesheke and Simanwa in Choma.

The National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP) cited internal wrangles and financial constraints as the reasons it will not participate in the by-elections.

NRPUP Secretary General Nonde Mubanga confirmed with Kalemba that they formally notified the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) of its decision not to take part in the fresh nomination process which has started today.

Mubanga said the party needed to put their house in order.

“There are things we need to iron out… You can’t go to the battlefront divided, ” he said.

Meanwhile, Mubanga told Kalemba that NRPUP president Ezra Tembo remains the duly elected leader of opposition and not former Home Affairs minister Stephen Kampyongo.

According to Mubanga the congratulatory messages to Kampyongo currently flying making rounds online is just propaganda.

He emphasised that the party had already written a letter to the national Assembly of the party’s choice of the leaders of opposition.

Mubanga added that the National Assembly acknowledged the receiving the letter sent last month.

Last month, NRPUP shared through a statement that the decision to recognize Tembo as Leader of the Opposition was already made by 34 NRPUP MPs during a meeting held at Palmwood Lodge