Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
Opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) Secretary General, Stephen Katuka says the grade twelve certificate requirement for people seeking elective office has contributed to his party’s failure to pick loyal party members as candidates for elections especially in rural areas.
He says loyal members of the party who were ready to contest the 2016 elections did not meet the grade twelve certificate requirement.
Mr. Katuka states that the party was forced to adopt anyone as long as they have a grade twelve certificate.
Meanwhile Mr. Katuka says it is wrong for any political party to use the recent defections the UPND has suffered in the recent past as a sign of its diminishing popularity.
He says the UPND is still popular despite its councilors defecting to the ruling party.