A UPND member based in Kabushi says it would be naive for the UPND to think the only reasons they lost in Kabushi were violence and electoral malpractices.
In a statement, Joseph Ntembula said there are other serious factors that led the UPND to lose the Kabushi Seat.
“The main reason is that Kabushi is a PF stronghold. Anyone who claims otherwise is a liar and has never been on the ground,” he said.
“Hakainde Hichilema was not allowed to campaign here on the Copperbelt prior to the August 12, 2021 General Elections yet he managed to win in three out of the four seats here in Ndola. The only constituency where President Hichilema lost was here in Kabushi. Even in Bwana Mkubwa where the UPND came third, President Hichilema emerged victorious.”
He added. “Kabushi is the only constituency in Ndola where the UPND performed terribly. We lost the presidency, MP and all the eight wards. Eight wards. It would be naive for the UPND to think the only reasons they lost in Kabushi were violence and electoral malpractices.”
He said the other factor that led to this loss is that the UPND fielded in unpopular candidates.
“There can be no other reason why we lost all the 8 wards other than having unpopular candidates. Some of the Councillors the UPND fielded in were total strangers who to this day have got into oblivion. The UPND Parliamentary candidate is still unknown to this day in certain areas of our constituency,” he said.
“Adding to this, the UPND here in Kabushi went into the August 2021 elections as a divided house. We had other candidates decampaining the UPND Candidate who they felt had been imposed by the constituency. There were also strong rumours that those in the party structures were wining and dining with the PF and had been bought off.”
He continued, “Other candidates who were not happy about what was obtaining in the UPND here in Kabushi chose to defect to other political parties and reduced the UPND numbers even more.”
Mr Ntembula warned that if the UPND has not made a serious postmortem to why they lost the Kabushi Seat, they are likely to suffer the same fate in the coming by election.
“The UPND should not underestimate the popularity of the PF in Kabushi. PF is still a strong party in Kabushi and to unseat them they will need someone who is equal to the task. They will need someone who is intelligent, articulate and above all, popular on the ground.”
Mr Ntembula said the UPND should not look beyond Mellbin Muyoba Simangolwa.
“Simangolwa has for the past 20 years helped youths and women in Kabushi to acquire skills, something none among other candidates from all political parties in Kabushi can claim. Simangolwa knows and understands the challenges the people of Kabushi face on a daily basis.”
“Kabushi has a chance to redeem itself and have an MP who will not go to Parliament just to drink water or make noise in the August House but will be able to articulate issues and present their case effectively and efficiently.”
Lusambo was like father Christmas everyday in kapushi…….
It is fair to say most people of kapushi received free handouts from Lusambo……
It is also fair to say prior to entering GRZ , Lusambo was broke………..
LET HIM HAVE KABUSHI HE IS GOING NO WHERE
ALSO NO GOVERNMENT AS EVER HAD 100% OF THE VOTE
OPPOSITION IS HEALTHY UNFORTUNATELY IT IS PF GRRRRRR
Bowman Lusambo should be aware that government has a plan to exclude him from the election. The plan is to let him file his nomination and then arrest him over some violence or other crimes. I’m just advising the opposition to take extra care as they pick candidates for this election.
His nomination will be or could be contested withing 7 days of nomination because of electoral malpractice. Thats ECZ rules, not UPND. We are in a free country, you can contest and oppose no problem. Bowman, PF and all there cadres know this, thats why they want to cause another circus as we approach the By election date.
3.1 Just Teka amatako panshi…my references have nothing to do with the contesting the nomination but out right arrest.
Look how angry the upnd f00Is are. I told them that they can never win kabushi. So hh wasted time and govt money trying to get rid of my bro lusambo, because he will be back again in the same position. Hh chlk0p0
There is a by-election there, you think winning by 4,000 votes indicates popularity as an incumbent? Wait and see. That election was tightly contested.
Stop kidding ipur selves………..
Lusambo was loved as father Christmas for free handouts………
He has no more money to give anyone……..
Even if he contested , he would not win. There are no more free handouts.
Fore-warned is fore-armed!
Journalism of today is shocking…who is Joseph….? Give us his history with the party and his standing then tell us what he has to say its called introduction.
They are playing games of appeasement to catch PF off guard. The margin in Kabushi was like 4,000 votes? Bowman knows that it’s an uphill battle there. Especially without state machinery. Let us see how this one goes.
WHY ALL THE FUSS ABOUT THIS THUG LEAVE HIM ALONE
PEOPLE WILL SOON FIND OUT ITS NOT ABOUT THEIR INTERESTS BUT ABOUT HIS OWN POCKET AND BIG HEAD
He won because of money and influence. Can’t win anymore as he has neither.