Two more candidates pull out of presidential race

Common Cause Democracy President Abel Mtonga and National Party President Reverend Richard Kambulu have withdrawn from the January 20th Presidential election race.

Addressing journalists at the Supreme Court this morning, Common Cause Democracy President Abel Mtonga says he is not ready to stand in January 20th polls but will attempt to do so in 2016.

Mr. Mtonga has since endorsed UPND President Hakainde Hichilema’s candidature saying he is the only one with a vision of correcting the wrongs the PF have committed in the past three years.

He says late Republican President Michael Sata called his ministers useless and never reversed that statement until he died, thus the need not to vote for the PF candidate.

Mr Mtonga says it is for this reason that he has decided to rally behind the UPND leader saying the PF have caused so much suffering in the lives of the people.

And Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) Public Relations Manager Cris Akufuna has confirmed to journalists that National Party President Reverend Richard Kambulu has withdrawn from the race.

Mr. Akufuna says Reverend Kambulu has written to the Returning Office Justice Lombe Chibesakunda informing her that he will not contest for the republican presidency due to logistical challenges.

The Nationalist Party candidate is expected to file in his nominations with the Acting Chief Justice Lombe Chibesakunda this afternoon.