15/04/2024
12th April, 2024.
The Chief Electoral officer,
Electoral Commission of Zambia,
LUSAKA, ZAMBIA.
Dear Sir,
Re: Complaint and request for fresh nominations in Gwembe District, Chisanga Ward and Kabompo district, Chikenge ward.
The above matter refers.
I wish to inform you that our Party actively participated in the up-coming by-elections, whose nominations were held yesterday, the 11th April, 2024. However, we experienced serious corruption, intimidation and violence including abductions against our candidates and Party officials from the United Party for National Development (UPND) in all the 9 wards.
The party therefore, wishes to bring to your attention the following selected key violations orchestrated by the UPND:
1.Our candidate for Luangwa District’s Kaunga ward, Maneya Mwale, who is only 22 years old was physically abused, Intimidated, kidnapped and had a gun pointed at her with threats of death being made by known UPND officials. These are Mr. Obvious Summerton Mwaliteta - UPND Lusaka Province Chairperson, Anderson Banda -UPND Lusaka Youth Chairperson, Kelly - UPND Luangwa District Youth Chairperson, Eddy, Cloud Tembo and Junior Zulu - UNPD members from Feira, Timothy Tembo - the younger brother to the UPND candidate in Kaunga ward.
2.Also, in Chisanga Ward of Gwembe District. At around 16:00 hours on Wednesday 10h April 2024, a day before nominations, known UPND members, without warning and provocation, attacked our campaign team and candidate at Pailoti village. This is where our team had camped. The attackers managed to get hold of the documents that had been prepared for nomination and destroyed them. Several people were injured. Others ran away and hid in the bush till the morning of Thursday 11th April. The UPND attackers mounted roadblocks on key road crossings - threatening to kill any of our members that they would get hold of. The UPND provincial youth chairperson for Southern Province, alias Kasenya, was amongst those that attacked our team