NDC wins Roan, PF retains Bahati
By Staff Reporter
OPPOSITION National Democratic Congress (NDC) has won its first parliamentary seat in Roan Constituency of Luanshya district while PF has retained the Bahati seat.
NDC’s Joseph Chishala polled 8, 665 beating his closest rival Joel Chibuye of the Patriotic Front who polled 5,533 votes.
Roan Returning Officer Emmanuel Makulila declared Chishala as the duly elected Member of Parliament for Roan at 02:17 hours this morning.
People’s Alliance for Change candidate Mwansa Chama polled 210 votes while Morgan Banda of the United Prosperous and Peaceful Zambia got 143 votes.
A total of 14,701 votes were cast while 150 ballot papers were rejected.
And speaking after being declared winner, Chishala thanked his party for the opportunity while pledging to represent interests of the people that elected him into office.
He called on the people of Roan to remain united and work with him for the betterment of the constituency.
“First and foremost, I would like to thank the almighty God for giving me this opportunity, when God says yes, no one can say no. This has showed me that people of Roan are very united and when they mean it they always do it. My promise to the people of Roan is that, this opportunity you have given me I will continue with the projects that Kambwili left,” said Chishala
He also thanked the alliance partners for their efforts to ensure victory.
And United Party for National Development Copperbelt Chairperson Elisa Matambo said the Roan results had clearly shown that once united the people of Zambia can be liberated.
Matambo said the country need the unity in order for the people of Zambia to be liberated.
“It’s now time to liberate the country economically and make sure that we take out this corrupt regime, and I think it has shown that when we unite, we definitely will take out this government, so we need the unity of purpose just like we did it in Roan,” said Matambo
He said that this is the beginning of the liberation of Zambians as set out by the people of Roan.
Meanwhile, Patriotic Front has retained the Bahati seat with its candidate Charles Chalwe getting a run-away 11, 481 votes while his closest rival Justine Bwalya of the United Party for National Development managed 2, 381.
United Progressive and Prosperous Party (UPPZ) candidate Clement Mwila got 1, 337 votes with Emmanuel Chalwe of FDD receiving 205 votes while tail-ender Isaac Lukwesa of the People’s Alliance for Change got 176 votes.
The Bahati seat fell vacant following the expulsion of Harry Kalaba from the Patriotic Front.
Kalaba’s Democratic Party did not field a candidate in the by-election.
