THE ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) is still popping champagne after comfortably scooping ward by-elections in Southern, Copperbelt and Northwestern provinces, leaving their opponents nursing political heartbreak.
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In Choma’s Mang’unza ward, UPND candidate Holden Milambo gave his rivals a political whipping they will not soon forget after he bagged a staggering 887 votes, leaving his only challenger, Trust Matimba of the Leadership Movement, stuck at the bottom with a mere 64 votes.
The results were announced at exactly 21:55 hours by returning officer Kazembe Zyambo, who declared Milambo as the duly elected councillor for Mang’unza Ward under Choma Municipal Council.
With excitement still fresh, Milambo thanked the people of Mang’unza for the overwhelming support and vowed not to just sit in the council chamber warming chairs but to push for development in the ward.
“I will work hard to ensure that Mang’unza has better roads, clean drinking water and improved health services,” Milambo said, as jubilant supporters danced and ululated into the night.
Out of the 1,887 registered voters in Mang’unza, 955 cast their votes, translating into a voter turnout of 51 percent.
The party was also busy celebrating in Kalulushi District on the Copperbelt after Happy Mwamba scooped the Ngweshi Ward by-election.
Mwamba secured 561 votes, comfortably defeating Wisdom Simwanza of the New Congress Party who managed 369 votes.
Other candidates were Steven Shamawawa of Leadership Movement, who limped home with 14 votes, while Citizens First’s Michael Mashamba could only fetch 9 votes.
The results were declared around 21:30 hours by returning officer Susiku Mwakoi at Kalulushi Primary School, triggering loud celebrations from UPND supporters who wasted no time in turning the school grounds into a dance floor.
Copperbelt Minister Elisha Matambo, who was part of the cheering squad, said the victory was proof that the people of Zambia still have confidence in President Hakainde Hichilema and his government.
“It’s unfortunate that some opposition parties were busy using the late President Lungu and his family for politics,” Matambo said, adding that the people of Zambia wanted Lungu to be given a dignified send-off, not turned into a campaign tool.
Meanwhile, newly elected Ngweshi councillor Happy Mwamba promised to roll up his sleeves and focus on addressing issues affecting his ward such as poor roads, lack of clean water and other community challenges.
Out of 2,931 registered voters in Ngweshi, only 962 cast their votes.
And in Northwestern part of the country, Solwezi District’s Kimasala Ward, UPND candidate Philip Tapula walked away with victory after polling 678 votes, leaving behind Citizens First (CF) candidate Webster Kyabala who only managed 95 votes.
By George Musonda
Kalemba July 11, 2025
