4 candidates to compete for Pambashe

By Chembe Mbale

Four candidates have successfully filed their nominations for the Pambashe Parliamentary by-election scheduled for February 6, 2025.

The first candidate to file nominations at Mushota Primary School Nomination Centre was WILLIAMS MWENYA from the FDD, who arrived at 10:10 hours. He was followed by JAMES CHABI from the Socialist Party. The ruling UPND candidate, JUSTIN KAPEMA, submitted his nomination papers around 15:00. The fourth candidate to successfully file was HONORATO KANUNSHA of the Democratic Union.

Speaking to journalists, the candidates expressed optimism about winning the Pambashe Parliamentary seat.

UPND candidate JUSTIN KAPEMA pledged to lobby for the speedy implementation of development projects, particularly those under the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).

Socialist Party candidate JAMES CHABI called for issue-based campaigns, emphasizing the need for constructive political discourse.

FDD’s WILLIAMS MWENYA promised to prioritize development in key sectors, including agriculture, health, and education, for the benefit of the people of Pambashe.

Meanwhile, the nomination process for the Pambashe Constituency was marked by some drama. Citizens First Party candidate ESKAYA KAYUMBA initially presented an invalid voter’s card. A certified copy of a valid voter’s card was later provided and submitted to the Returning Officer for Pambashe, MICHAEL MWANSHA. However, after hours of consultation and verification, Mr. MWANSHA ultimately rejected the nomination papers.

Another candidate, DERRICK CHAMA from the Movement for Change and Equality Party, could not complete the nomination process after his party failed to pay the K15,000 nomination fee.

The Pambashe by-election was necessitated by the conviction of the incumbent Member of Parliament, Ronald Chitotela, by a court of law.