Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
The opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) have threatened to petition the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to disqualify patriotic front (PF) aspirant Godwin Putu in the Mangango parliamentary by-election on account that he does not qualify.
The Mangango seat left vacant following the death, in a road traffic accident, of then UPND Member of Parliament Naluwa Mweene.
But UPND Elections Chairperson Gary Nkombo says the Pf candidate, Mr. Putu confessed that he does not have academic qualification to contest.
Speaking when addressing journalists in Lusaka, Mr. Nkombo has implored ECZ to investigate the Pf through Putu’s abrogating the electoral code of conduct.
He says his party will engage the lawyers to scrutinize the documents Mr. Putu presented to see whether the qualification authority of Zambia and examination council of Zambia genuinely certified his documents he presented to electoral commission of Zambia (ECZ).
According to Mr. Nkombo, owing to constitutional academic qualification clause, Mr. Putu does not qualify as he does not possess a grade 12 certificate.
And Mr. Nkombo says the party will conduct violent free campaign but emphasized that they will react if attacked by the ruling party.
And speaking at the same event, UPND Luampa Member of Parliament Makozo Chikote who is also deputy campaign manager for Mwendoi Akakandelwa has accused patriotic front of working with the police to intimidate voters ahead of Mangango constituency by election.