Thursday 27 February 2014

Shakafuswa Makes Triumphant Entry Into Parliament

By Paul Shalala in Katuba

After a three year absence from parliament, Jonas Shakafuswa is back at Manda Hill.

Following his loss to the late MMD area member of parliament Dr Patrick Chikusu in 2011, Mr Shakafuswa stayed out of parliament as a UPND member.

But at around 10:15hrs yesterday, Katuba parliamentary by-election Returning Officer Mutambi Mwanamwalye declared him duly elected Katuba member of parliament.

This followed Mr Shakafuswa's perfomance in Tuesday's Katuba by-election in which he beat 6 other candidates and emmerged victorious with 4, 787 votes.

After being declared victorious, Mr Shakafuswa said he was happy to have the privilege to represent Katuba in parliament again.


He said he was ready to work with 'useless MPs' and push development further.


As parliament resumed its usual sittings yesterday at 14:30hrs, Mr Shakfuswa majestically walked into parliament and took oath before the Speaker.


Mr Shakafuswa also took part in the protest by MPs inside parliament after Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba issued a ministerial statement on the constitution making process.

Earlier, there was confusion at the totalling center when a Zambia Airforce helicopter which went to the last remaining results from three remaining polling stations took long.

UPND members led by Kalomo Central member of parliament Request Muntanga, who was also UPND Katuba campaign manager, exchanged words with Electoral Commission of Zambia officers as to why the helicopter was delaying to bring the results.


At 06:00hrs on Wednesday, the helicopter took off from Moomba Catholic Parish Hall (which was the totalling center) and flew to Mboshya, Namayani and kananzhiba which are not accessible by road.

After a 2 hour long wait, the camouflaged military helicopter appeared from the sky and delivered the results at the totalling center much to the excitement of the jubilating UPND cadres.

Results for the losing candidates include PF candidate Moses Chilando who got 2, 747 votes followed by MMD's Cecil Holmes who got 734 votes.

NAREP candidate Joseph Mushalika polled 566 votes, Alliance for a Better Zambia candidate Patricia Mwashingwele polled 393 votes and UNIP candidate Friday Malawo got 124 votes.

National Revolution Party candidate Shakespeare Mwakamui trailed them all with a paltry 23 votes.

His party President Cozmo Mumba has since announced that he will petition the Katuba election results because his party sympathisers did not show up at polling stations due to intimidation.

Mr Mumba, who last month threatened to resign if his candidate loses in Katuba, says he will update the nation on his resignation on Saturday.

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