East Minister voted as MMD Provincial Minister

Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) in Eastern Province has elected Eastern Province Minister, Lameck Mangani as its Provincial Chairperson.

Mr Mangani who is also Chipata Central Member of Parliament was elected at the
Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) meeting held in Chipata last night, witnessed
by MMD National Secretary Katele Kalumba and National Organising Party Secretary
Frank Bowa.

He takes over from Mrs. Helen Tembo who was recently appointed by President Levy
Mwanawasa to serve as Deputy Consular General in the Democratic Republic of Congo
(DRC). 

Mr Mangani beat four other contesting candidates to emerge winner.

He managed to poll a total of 10 votes out of 18 votes cast by PEC members who were
legible to vote, while his closest rival, who is the current Vice Provincial Chairperson, Major Francis Kamanga polled four votes.

Other contestants were Johabbie Mtonga and Rueben Banda who got one and three votes
respectively.

Meanwhile, Mr Mangani disclosed that the party was geared for the Kapoche constituency by-election in Petauke district.

The Kapoche seat fell vacant after Forum for Development and Democracy (FDD)
candidate Charles Banda successfully petitioned the September 28, 2006 tripartite
elections in the Lusaka High Court.

Mr Banda has since been nominated by his party to contest the seat while the ruling
MMD was yet to adopt a candidate for the by-election.

Former Community Development and Social Services Deputy Minister, Nicholas Banda,
was the area Member of Parliament after the September 2006 Tripartite election.

The filing in of nominations for the Kapoche seat would take place on May 15, 2007
while the election date had been set for June 5 this year.

ZANIS