CANDIDATES PROTEST FRESH NOMINATION FEES

By SIMON MUNTEMBA                          CANDIDATES in areas where the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has cancelled elections have protested paying new fees. New Hope MMD Mandevu constituency parliamentary candidate, Joshua Mulenga, said it was unfair for the ECZ to subject candidates to paying K15, 000 nominations fees for the second time. Mr Mulenga has since threatened to seek legal redress against the ECZ decision to call for fresh nominations. The nominations were cancelled in Mandevu constituency following the death of Zambia United for Sustainable Development candidate, Ms Melody Musutu. Mr Mulenga said it would be costly for him to pay fresh nomination fees of K15, 000 a month before polls. “It will be very unfair for me to again pay K15, 000. I will actually seek legal redress against the decision by Electoral Commission of Zambia to call for fresh nominations in the Mandevu constituency. I will seek a correct interpretation of the law from the court,” he said. The ECZ cancelled three parliamentary nominations in Mandevu, Lusaka Central, and Mpulungu constituencies. The ECZ has clarified that Article 52 sub-article 6 of the republican constitution offers guidance on the procedures to take following the death of a candidate after the close of nominations and before the polls. United Party for National Development (UPND) Lusaka Central candidate, Mulambo Haimbe, has demanded a reversal of the cancellation of the nomination for the constituency. In a letter addressed to the ECZ, Mr Haimbe said the decision to cancel the nomination was unreasonable and void. In Lusaka Central, the independent candidate, Ms Charity Lumpa withdrew from the race, hence Mr Haimbe’s demand.