Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
Voting started on a high note in the Solwezi West parliamentary by-election with a good number of people turning up at polling stations to cast their votes.
The by-election is being contested by Patriotic Front’s Martin Mbaya, UPND’S Teddy Kasonso and John Njombi of UNIP.
QFM’s Albert Mpezeni reports from Solwezi that people had queued up at various polling stations as early as 05:30 hou
rs.
By 07:50hrs, about 285 people had already cast their votes at Manyama polling station, while more people were trooping to polling stations.
Polling assistants talked expressed confidence that more people will turn up to cast their votes as the day progresses.
Solwezi-West has a total number of 33,320 registered voters, according to the 2011 ECZ voters’ register with 31 polling stations.
The Solwezi West seat fell vacant following the death of MMD MP Humphrey Mwanza.
And Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) is happy at the calmness, orderliness and efficiency that have characterized the voting in the Lubansenshi parliamentary by-election in Luwingu District.
FODEP Executive Director MacDonald Chipenzi says mid morning most polling stations witnessed medium sized queues of enthusiastic electorate forming ready to cast their vote for their next representative.
Mr Chipenzi says his organisation hopes that the peace and orderliness that has prevailed so far will continue till the end.
He says FODEP is, however, concerned at the number of ministers hovering around Lubansenshi Constituency.
Mr Chipenzi states that FODEP has also received reports of vote buying and a minister ferrying voters at Chikoti polling station but that quick Police intervention was enough to stop the named minister from perpetuating the trend.
Meanwhile Police in Solwezi fought running battles with UPND supporters yesterday in Manyama area after the planned UPND rally was allegedly cancelled at the last minute by the Police.
Some residents of Manyama talked to by QFM News crew this morning disclosed that the situation was tense and calm only returned after 21hours last evening.
Police used teargas to disperse the UPND supporters who had blocked about 2km of the Solwezi-Mwinilunga Road following the cancellation of their rally.
It is believed Police had pushed the rally which was suppose to be held at Manyama Primary School ground to 17:00 hours after pupils had knocked off a move which was not received well the UPND supporters.
The UPND supporters got further incensed by the move by the Police to further cancel the second rally which was supposed to be held at Manyama Community hall.
One Police officer was severely injured during the fracas, while some children who were caught up in the fracas fainted as a result of the effect of the teargas fired by Police at the market were the UPND supporters had retreated to.
