ELECTORAL Commission of Zambia (ECZ) chairperson Esau Chulu yesterday invalidated the nomination of an independent presidential aspiring candidate Masuwa Kalabi, with his running mate Ryan Tembo, for failing to meet the 1, 000 supporters, as per the nomination requirement.
According Justice Chulu, Kalabi only managed to mobilise 948 supporters by 18:00 hours yesterday, despite giving him extra time for him to meet the deadline but failed.
Justice Chulu went ahead and closed the presidential nomination period.
But Kalabi argued that he brought the needed supporters within the stipulated time but security at Mulungushi International Conference Centre directed them to go into the Lusaka Show Grounds were they were ordered back to Mulungushi.
He further explained to justice Chulu that he was not communicated to on where they would have done the verification of supporters until his time elapsed.
Justice Chulu advised Kalabi to officially appeal to the commission in writing by the end of business today.
After his unsuccessful presidential bid, a disillusioned Kalabi, with Tembo, was led out of the main hall by ECZ public relations manager Patricia Luhanga to the dais to where he spoke his mind.
Standing next to Kalabi was a tightlipped Tembo.
Kalabi told reporters, some chuckling, that he had transported the remaining supporters to Lusaka from as far as the Copperbelt, Solwezi, Kasama and Chikankata in Southern Province.
Kalabi, donning an admirable navy blue suit and brown shoes with loose shoelaces, was certainly dejected and sort of gasping.
With a good command of grammar, he claimed that the ECZ did not communicate adequately to him on where his supporters could physically be verified from.
Kalabi complained that he was disadvantaged because he was the first independent to aspire for the Republican presidency.
He, however, thanked other presidential candidates who successfully filed in their nominations forms.
Earlier, Kalabi was seen running up and down at the nomination centre and constantly on phone trying to meet the numbers.
But by 18:00 hours, he still had a short fall of 52 registered voters.
“I would like to thank you Ryan Tembo for walking with me on this journey and the many supporters that we have. We were advised to bring our supporters to Lusaka today 20th [May 2021] of which we successfully, managed as of yesterday 19:00hours our supporters where in Lusaka,” Kalabi explained.
“Sadly, to say that this morning at 06:00 hours our supporters were turned away from Mulungushi Conference Centre and were not given any direction to go.”
He added: “realising this, I approached the electoral commission at 09:00hours and it was at this point that they misled me that they have a centre of processing the supporters in the Showgrounds.”
“I went to the Showgrounds 20 minutes later but only to find no person, no supporter of mine there. And when I inquired, I learnt that my supporters had been turned away because the officers were not aware of any processing of supporters by the electoral commission,” complained Kalabi.
“I did follow the procedure, engaged the police at the centre and the Showgrounds and started looking for our supporters who had crossover to Manda Hill. You can imagine my supporters are coming as far as Copperbelt, Solwezi, Mongu, Chikankata.”
But that complaint is just that – a complaint. Nothing more or less. Obviously, the heavens heard Kalabi’s petition and will act. Not the ECZ. Kalabi is out of the presidential race, just like that.
Lord hear me, could have been Kalabi’s prayer, as he left Mulungushi last evening.
Below is the list of 16 successfully nominated Presidential Candidates:
1. Dr. Edgar C. Lungu: Patriotic Front
2. Mr. Enock R. Tonga: 3rd Liberation Movement
3. Mr. Sean E. Tembo: Patriots For Economic Progress
4. Mr. Andyford M. Banda: People’s Alliance For Change
5. Ms. Chishala Kateka: New Heritage Party
6. Mr. Kasonde C. Mwenda: Economic Freedom Fighters
7. Mr. Steven Nyirenda: National Restoration Party
8. Mr. Lazarus Chisela: Zambians United For Sustainable Development
9. Dr. Richard Silumbe: Leadership Movementk
10. Mr. Highvie H. Hamududu: Party Of National Unity And Progress
11. Dr. Fred M’membe: Socialist Party
12. Mr. Harry Kalaba: Democratic Party
13. Mr. Hakainde Hichilema: United Party For National Development
14. Dr. Nevers Mumba: Movement For Multi-Party Democracy
15. Mr. Charles Chanda: United Prosperous and Peaceful Zambia
16. Dr. Trevor Musonda Selwyn Mwamba: United National Independence Party.
©Kalemba May 21, 2021
