ELECTORAL Commission of Zambia chairperson justice Esau Chulu will tomorrow start receiving nominations from presidential candidates for the August 12 general election.
Justice Chulu is the returning officer for the presidential vote.
Briefing journalists at Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka this afternoon, Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) chief electoral officer Kryticous Patrick Nshindano gave a schedule of filing in of nominations for presidential candidates.
Meanwhile, Nshindano disclosed that five out of 20 paid up presidential candidates have their records incomplete, in terms of pre-processing of supporters.
He said PF’s Edgar Lungu would be the first to file in from 09:00 hours to 10:00 hours tomorrow, then Enock Roosevelt Tonga of the Third Liberation Movement at 10:15 hours to 11:15 hours. From 11:30 hours to 12:30 hours, it would be Sean Tembo of the Patriots for Economic Progress (PeP), then People’s Alliance for Change (PAC)’s Andyford Mayele Banda from 13:00 hours to 14:00 hours and UNIP’s Trevor Mwamba from 14:00 hours to 15:00 hours.
On Tuesday, May 18, under the same timing, it would be Chishala Kateka of the New Heritage Party, Kasonde Mwenda of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), Stephen Nyirenda of the National Restoration Party (NAREP), Lazarus Chisela of the Zambia United for Sustainable Development (ZUSD) and Richard Silumbe of the Leadership Movement (LM).
Highvie Hamududu of the Party of National Unity and Progress (PNUP), Socialist Party’s Fred M’membe, Harry Kalaba of the Democratic Party, UPND’s Hakainde Hichilema and Felix Mutati of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) would file in on Wednesday, May 19.
On the last day for filing of presidential nominations, Thursday, May 20, it would be MMD’s Nevers Mumba, Nason Msoni of the All People’s Congress (APC), Charles Chanda of the United and Prosperous and Peaceful Zambia (UPPZ) and independent presidential candidate, Masuwa Kalabi, filing in.
“These nominations will be done at MICC under the returning officer, the ECZ chairperson justice Esau Chulu,” Nshindano said.
“Aspiring candidates for presidential, National Assembly, mayor, council chairperson and councillor should ensure that all necessary nomination documentation is in place, as provided for in the Electoral Commission of Zambia checklist.”
Earlier, Nshindano indicated that a total of 20 presidential candidates paid the nomination fee.
He then gave an update on the status of pre-processing of supporters for those paid up presidential candidates.
Nshindano explained that supporters for Kalaba, President Lungu, Chanda, Tonga, UNIP’s Mwamba, Kateka, Kasonde Mwenda, and Nyirenda have all been processed in all the 10 provincial centres.
Others whose supporters were successfully pre-processed in all the provincial centres are Hichilema, Dr M’membe, Sean Tembo, Hamududu and Peter Chanda.
Peter Chanda has, however, withdrew from the presidential race.
“His withdrawal from the presidential race would be affirmed at nomination filing stage. But he is a paid up presidential candidate,” Nshindano noted.
Masuwa Kalabi, Mutati, Peter Chanda, Msoni and Chisela of the ZUSD have incomplete records, insofar as pre-processing of their supporters.
Nshindano said there were “a few provinces” where the named five presidential candidates’ supporters have not been fully processed.
“The respective presidential candidates have been advised to bring the remaining presidential supporters to Lusaka, as they file in their nominations on the scheduled date,” he noted.
“They will be processed, if they do manage on the day of filing in.”
Asked what happens to a presidential candidate’s nomination fees in an instance where they are unable to complete the processes, starting with the pre-processing of supporters and any other requirements, Nshindano responded: “the fees are non-refundable!”
“So, if a candidate fails to meet the requirements for the nomination, they will forfeit the amount,” said Nshindano.
The nomination fee for a female presidential candidate is K75,000 while male presidential candidates were paying K95,000.
Credit: The Mast
