PF SUFFERS SETBACK EVEN BEFORE POLLING DAY

The Patriotic Front has already lost two seats in Southern Province, contrary to the assertion by Secretary General Wynter Kabimba that his party was contesting in all 150 parliamentary constituencies.
A final tally of parliamentary candidates has found that the PF failed to find candidates in two constituencies in Southern Province. The Patriotic Front (PF) has failed to field candidates in Pemba and Chikankata constituencies in Southern Province and has also not fielded local government candidates in several other wards countrywide.
According to information obtained by the Times of Zambia from the final list of successful parliamentary candidates for the September 20 elections only the MMD had managed to field candidates in all the 150 constituencies.
The UPND only successfully filed nominations in 136 constituencies. According to the final list of candidates in Pemba Constituency six candidates are contesting the seat with only the MMD, UPND and the National Movement for Progress  being the only parties represented, fighting for the seat against three independent candidates.
Similarly in Chikankata Constituency the same three political parties are contesting the elections while there are two independent candidates.
Last week, Mr Kabimba said the party had fielded candidates in all the 150 constituencies. Contacted for a comment about the findings that the party had not fielded in the two constituencies, PF vice-president Guy Scott refused to comment.