ECZ BANS FIRST PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE

LIVE NOW; UPPZ Charles Chanda is the first presidential candidate on to barred. ECZ stated that Mr. Chanda has undischarged bankruptcy and his Secretary General doesnt appear on Registrar of Societies. 

Transcript

SPEAKER_09 2:31

Where is why be?

SPEAKER_13 2:32

You pass why Justice for I mean big money Watch up the wish I think I put the pick up the big money I've got you got to get up for the puppet I've got to the mess to the units but send the number like we played like a hope yes but you can put a plate no but you want to play up with a while this up just that my job is that yeah we can get back you want to come back for the Manda Zambia Zambia to a city of Anna this is not the Manda Zambia that I think we have life by our ancestors our forefathers who fought so hard to reparate us come here Mamma Julatka Monika Sakamon Sakawart to put this country on the map to put this country where it is today No man will destroy this country because we believe in unity Mamma and Mamadabund one Zambia one nation and we shall together we will change and we are going to change this government my name is Blaise Zabia that he is a Tonga president look at his cabinet look at the roads look at CDF is the Mongu Kalabo Road in Wengua is free education only for Tonga children when drought hit did he only distribute food to Tonga people absolutely not he declared a national disaster not a regional disaster in fact Zambia needed a man so disciplined that even his enemies cannot agree on which lie to accuse him of they have called him a Satanist a foreign agent and now he eats human body parts how can a man who refuses to eat bacon pork chops or drink beer on a Friday night and I think reasonable people will do everything in their powers to avoid this kind of disappointment it is therefore important that as we go to the election we support the candidate and the political party that have records with the registrar society records with the registrar society the political party that is going to have register president with the registrar the register political party that's not illegal with the convention political party president in my view in my view electronic it is therefore it is reasonable that we support and I believe that Ari Kalama can make it is a reasonable and strong candidate going by what is going on now I think it's only reasonable that we support Ari Kalama it is therefore my declaration today that I will support Ali Kalama and urge well-meaning Zambians to support Ari Kalama.

SPEAKER_01 10:29

There was a request from uh Mr Kelvin Wadia Fuga's party to be moved to Thursday. You will note that the Commission has been uh engaging with the respective political parties even after that schedule was made available just so we can manage this process uh better for the political parties candidates but as well as for ourselves so Mr.

SPEAKER_16 10:55

Foge is coming on Thursday I regret to inform you that in accordance with Article 100 of the Constitutional Samuel amendment number 2 of 2016 and regulations 11 and 18 of the electoral process general regulations I have determined that you have not been validly nominated for the fourth for the forthcoming presential election the reasons for my determination are as follows one that you are undischarged bankrupt as advised by the office of the official receiver of the Republic of Zambia in a letter to the Electoral Commission of Zambia dated 22nd of April 2026 in which a judgment between Lars and Sinkala the petitioners and 109 others versus yourself Mr Charles Chandler in case number 2022 HP 092 was attached in addition the petitioners in the same matter also advised the commission in writing and attached the judgment that you have not discharged the bankruptcy furthermore section 2 as well with section 30b of the election process amendment act number 12 of 2016 requires an adoption certificate to be signed by the President and Secretary General of a political party who must off bear in accordance with the Support Act chapter 119 of the laws of government the adoption certificate presented does not bear the name of the Secretary General by the powers vested in me under Article 522 of the constitution I being returning officer duly reject your nomination as you are ineligible to contest for presidential election can I respond you will have a window to no you see you have kept just for two hours and I know exactly what was going on you cannot ask for the elector without coming back to me I'm not bankrupt.

SPEAKER_02 14:14

How can somebody with five billion be bankrupt?

SPEAKER_15 14:17

It doesn't make sense from the court I'm not getting this letter no I think I finished you are not going to succeed from the court here you will have a window to no you see you have kept us for two hours exactly what was going on you cannot have a letter without coming back to me I'm bankrupt somebody with five billion be bankrupt it doesn't make sense a letter from the court I'm not getting this letter no I think I finished you are not going to succeed from the court here six this story I'm hearing that the president has a pita come a my council of Zaluza man the president has a seven uh the run the run man your president has a seven as a seven president independent parliament how is the president going to run the government the president needs counselors the president needs council chairperson the president needs members the president needs MPs the president needs ministers 2026 people the MP1 zig up the way I'm talking about birds we have mentioned all our twenty twenty six we want our president would you want to present the president as a one as a one president independence parliament would you have a who did how is the president going to run the government the president needs counselors the president needs council chairperson the president needs mayors the president needs MPs the president needs ministers the suit 2026 uh greetings to the people of sake central uh and zambia as a whole this afternoon we are here in Kablonga Wat 19 uh central consumency myself uh with my brotherwali um we want to jointly address the people of Osaka Central and Zambia at large uh as you will all know we have been in uh a very uh competitive race for uh adoption for the Saka Central City uh and uh uh this race has uh of course uh had a lot of interesting aspects uh this afternoon we were here to announce um that we have sat together uh we have considered uh the interests of the people of Missaka Century and of course our own interests and uh I would want to say uh right off the bat that uh I have decided after consultation why uh to withdraw from the Missaka Central race I would like to concentrate amongst other things on the presidential race uh given uh the amount of uh work that needs to be done uh for in the district uh I'd also like to say that uh in view of my withdrawal I want to support uh Mr. Malewa for the seat I would also want to take this opportunity to speak to our supporters that this should be a sign that political competition is just a race towards achieving an outcome in the best interest of all the constituents in the electorate it's a race that is should be based on ideas rather than anything else and we want to show this as a sign of unity and to encourage our respective supporters that we can be united even as we as I withdraw from the race and my supporters let us work together in Central Standard of Osaka Central the best people interest of the European here I'm endorsing my brother for Osaka Central 2026.

SPEAKER_05 20:43

Thank you very much I would like to also add that I'm very grateful to the State Council for this magnanimous step that he has taken it's uh I'm sure you know when you are competing it's it's not an easy thing to do. It shows that he's a bigger person and we truly appreciate and I would like to encourage all the supporters we are all members of UPND if we could just unite and put this stage behind us and moving forward now towards uh lifting the red flag for UPND and ensure we get as many presidential votes as we possibly can. If we unite if we can show the same magnanimity that uh Council Haime has shown that would be absolutely fantastic. It would be good for us it would be good for the party. Once again I'd like to say thank you very much for being so magnanimous and looking forward to the next campaign.

SPEAKER_15 21:52

We are with you all the way to the rest and uh we shall uh all win with your victory. Thank you.

SPEAKER_14 22:00

Good day and welcome to today's broadcast. Kindly share the broadcast, share the broadcast. Um, we are back with the issues of the Electoral Commission of Zambia today. We saw the first victim, in fact, two victims. Um, at nine o'clock, we expected Howard Kunda of the Zambia Wake U Party to submit. Now we understand, I'm trying to reach him quickly, quickly. I'm trying to see how I can get confirmation. But he had uh an issue where his running mate was locked up on allegations of cybercrimes. I'm yet to get the names of the person uh who was his running mate. And so he couldn't file. Remember, he's a double ticket. He couldn't file at nine o'clock. Then you had Charles Chander of the United Prosperous and Peaceful Party, the one I've just played the video, where he has been disqualified on two key issues. Number one, that uh he was declared bankrupt in 2018, and that bankruptcy remains uh undischarged. Uh, you remember that you are selling plots uh in uh is that Lusaka East or off Chelstone area, and um some people accused him that he didn't deliver the land, so they sued him and they demanded money from him and he didn't pay, so they proceeded to declare bankruptcy. You heard the protestation by Charles Chanda stating that uh that uh he has a letter from court that shows that he was cleared or he paid the outstanding amount. But those were the two victims today. I think uh Howard Kunda will probably seek another slot and he will resubmit. But for Charles Chanda, his nomination papers were declared invalid on two issues that he has a discharged bankruptcy. And number two, that the person who was signed as secretary general on his adoption certificate doesn't appear on the registrar of society's books. So the person, and this is a political party by Chanda that has been participating or no by elections. It's a political party owns, founded, and owns, but he's been told that the person who signed a secretary general doesn't appear on the list of office bearers at registrar of societies. Remember, Mwangala Zalomis has introduced a new electoral process bill that became an act of parliament, and she has made it a regulation that the signatories to the adoption certificates, both president and secretary general, must be from uh must be registered with the uh a registrar of societies. To that effect, brown brown casaro has even issued a memo and I'll be reading it just shortly. We have Kelvin Fubewalia, who was supposed to um present his documents at uh 11 hours. We understand as you saw by ECZ, and I had an opportunity to speak to KBF. He says his documents are in order. He had a court matter that he couldn't seek an adjournment and he sought an adjournment with ECZ. And he says ECZ have given him provisionary Thursday that he will deliver his documents, he will file in his nominations. Xavier Franklin Chunggu, he was supposed to file in at 12 hours. Given Mwenya Chanza, I have just seen um uh uh on ECZ website that uh given mwenya chansa and his running mate from movement for economic emancipation have submitted their documents for scrutiny. And as at uh uh newstime as hours coming to you, ECZ has not ruled whether his papers are in order. Then we saw prof pro Professor Daniel Chivale Pule is the last one that should have filed in at 15 hours, but we saw that given Mwenya chance I was filing in at nine around 18, 19 hours. So Dan Pule, there is no news yet. The point is, like we've been warning you, that ECZ is going to use constitutional and administrative rules to bar certain political candidates for constitutional issues, such as uh uh that you should be, you should not be an undischarged bankruptcy, bankrupt person. That that is constitutional. You know, the the qualifications in article 100, no one has any issue with them. The issue we have are administrative rules that don't even seem constitutional, such as the Secretary General who should sign on the paper should be one registered with the registrar of societies. An entity, the state, and leaving Goma have been in charge with changing, amending, and now they've deposited it with the powers to determine which certificate is valid. And Mongala Zalomis is just going to claim that the Registrar of Society says you are not on the register and therefore you are disqualified. Despite being qualified by Article 100 of the Republican constitution, she is disqualifying. I will read the qualifications for a candidate uh as provided by the constitution, not by these administrative rules that um um uh our dear uh uh eight-year-old mama, chair personal, is giving you those. Someone must challenge those administrative rules in the constitutional court. We'll keep on complaining if you don't take those matters to court for Charles Chanda. If he truly is bankruptcy was discharged, he has an opportunity to go back. But what about the issue of his SG? He owns a political party, he doesn't know his secretary general. What happened there? We probably will need more truth from Chanda. Um issued a notice. Let me just read it to you. Um it's dated today, signed by Brown Cassaro, the chief electoral officer. And uh he says the Electoral Commission of Zambia wishes to advise all political parties, all aspiring candidates, that the following the enactment of the electoral process amendment act number 12 of 2026, it's been enacted, but as President Haka Indech LM assigned it into law, has he? If he assigned it into law, please let me know. But already ECZ is relying on this bill that was enacted and is really is relying on it as law. But I haven't seen President Haka Inde HLM assign this into law. But if he has signed it into law, let me know in the comments. So this is what he says. An adoption is a legal requirement for candidates sponsored by a political party, which must be presented to the returning officer when filing nominations. The adoption certificates, and you've even put these in board and italicized the letters, the adoption certificate must be signed by the party president and the secretary general or deputy secretary general of the party. The adoption certificates must bear the full details of the president and the secretary general, clearly stating the first name and surname and signature of the office bearers as per the record of the registrar of societies. Political parties and candidates are advised to ensure that they prepare for the 2026 nominations and comply accordingly. This is Brown Casaro, the chief electoral officer, has issued that statement. What happens tomorrow? Tomorrow we have the following to submit. Remember, on this one, we don't know if Xavier Franklin Chungu submitted and Professor Daniel Chibalepule submitted, but we have seen Howard Kunda fail to submit because his vice president was arrested, Lucello Chelo, and he was supposed to be the first one at nine o'clock. His running mate was arrested before that. We have Charles Chanda, who we saw the debacle, where he has been disqualified. Then we have given Muenya Chansa from the movement for economic emancipation, who and his running mates have just filed their documents. We are waiting for the determination. Professor Daniel Chwarepule and Franklin Xavier Chungu, I don't know if they filed. Before we go to tomorrow, let's just uh recap on what ECZ said to Chanda and the decision by the decision by ECZ to disqualify uh the candidature of um UPPZ president using both constitutional and administrative issues. The constitutional issue is that is an undischarged bankrupt person. The administrative issue is that the person who was signed as Secretary General is not one appearing before the registrar of societies.

SPEAKER_16 32:20

The reasons for my determination are as follows. One, that you are undischarged banker as advised by the office of the official receiver of the Republic of Zambia in a letter to the Electoral Commission of Zambia dated 22nd of April 2026, in which a judgment between Nathan Sinkala, the petitioners, and 109 others vessels yourself with the child standard in course number 2022, HP 092, was attached. In addition, the petitioners in the same matter also advised the commission in writing and attached a judgment that you have not discharged the bankruptcy. Furthermore, section 2 as read with section 30b of the election process amendment act number 12 of 2016 requires an adoption certificate to be signed by the President and Secretary General of a political party who must be office bearer in accordance with the support of Act Chapter 119 of the laws of family. The adoption certificate presented does not bear the name of the Secretary General, but the powers vested in me under Article 522 of the constitution. I, being returning officer, duly reject your nomination as you are ineligible to contest for presidential election.

SPEAKER_02 34:48

You will have a window to no, you see you have kept just for two hours.

SPEAKER_03 35:08

No, I think that's from the court here.

SPEAKER_07 36:49

The president needs MP. The President needs ministers.

SPEAKER_14 37:02

The Electoral Commission of Zambia is one of the key instruments that promotes um peace and security or destabilizes peace and security. The manner in which ECZ handles these issues is very critical. So far, it's not looking good. The amount of tension that has just risen sharply in our country demonstrate that ECZ will be at the center of determining whether we hold free, credible, uh democratic, peaceful, you know, transparent, free and fair elections. ECZ is a key to determining whether Zambia will have peace or not. Tomorrow, on Tuesday, 19th May 2026, Honorable Harikalawa of Orange Alliance and leader of Citizen First will be the first one at 0-9 hours to present his letters of credency. Then you are is going to be followed by Enoch Roosevelt Tonga, Third Liberation Movement. Then you'll have Francis Francines Mandona, People's Party at 11 hours, and you'll have the Forum for Democracy and Development at 12 hours. Then you have Kaswondesi Mwenda who's been in prison, and I don't know if he's been released. You can tell me in the comments if Kaswondesi Mwenda has been released of Economic Freedom Fighters Party is going to present at 13 hours. We have Bran Muntayalwa Mundubile with National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity at 14 hours. Then we'll end up with Dr. Chitalu Chilufia. If anyone was watching Mao Sampa, Mao Sampa was live while I was going live as well. I don't know what the determination by Mao Sampa has been on his participation because Chitalu Chilufia, under his auspices, is supposed to present uh his nominations tomorrow. So if you have any idea, and I also send a note to Mal Sampa what his decision uh is on this, I'll come back to you and inform you. That is tomorrow. The big one is Hari Kalava in the morning and uh Brian Munduwile in the afternoon, and we'll see how ECZ will treat their credentials. Remember, Brian Munuwile has just been adopted by a new political party. Many of you had never heard of it until it was pronounced the other day, National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity. How does the ECZ deal with a brand new political party in relation to what CO6? Are they going to find an excuse to buy Brian Mundwile tomorrow by saying maybe the conf the new party didn't go to conference? What will they say? Our eyes and ears will be on this ticket by Bran Mundwile at 14 hours tomorrow. Hari Kalaba is expected to have no trouble. Um Crozel Tonga, then Francis Mandona Mapi People's Party. This is a party that has uh is in court with uh Sebastian Kopland. What will FDD do? Will they drop this? Remember, FDD submitted the hundred the 1,000 supporters and paid 100,000 and they had floated Brian Mundwile as a presidential candidate. But midstream, Brian Mundwile introduced the National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity. There are two scenarios here. If the Forum for Democracy and Development have cleared their papers, because we saw their objections and the matters in court, if they have cleared their matters, Brian can file under FDD. But as before today, you know, looking at the factors that emerged last week, it's unlikely that Brian will file under FDD. So he might file at 14 hours under National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity. And then Dr. Shitalu Chulufia at 14 hours. Those are the changes for, those are the issues for tomorrow. I'll come back to read to you just uh the program that has been released by Archbishop Teles von Bund, founder of OCIDA. I saw some young man on Damon TV literally disparaging Archbishop Teles von Bund. And I said, where is our morality to case a man who's died in the grave? Purport that you've expelled him when you know you didn't. You know that the two factions exist, one by Leslie Mbull and the other one by Archbishop Teles von Bund. Why attempt to scandalize such a dignified man and who's no longer there to defend himself? So I'll read you the program for the archbishop that has been released by Lusaka Archdiocese for his morning. This evening there is uh I think some require mass, but I'll come back for the details.

SPEAKER_13 42:36

That he is a Tonga president. Look at his cabinet, look at the roads, look at CDF. Is the Mongu Kalabo road in Wengua? Is free education only for Tonga children? When drought hit, did he only distribute food to Tonga people? Absolutely not. He declared a national disaster, not a regional disaster. In fact, Zambia needed a man so disciplined that even his enemies cannot agree on which lie to accuse him of. They have called him a Satanist, a foreign agent, and now he eats human body parts. How? How can a man who refuses to eat bacon, pork chops, or drink beer on a Friday night become?

SPEAKER_06 43:28

And I think reasonable people will do everything in their powers to avoid this kind of uh uh uh disappointment. It is therefore important that as we go to the elections, we support a candidate and a political party that have records with the registrar of society. Clear records with the registrar of society, and the political party that is going to have A registered president with the registrar and the registered secretary general to sign their adoption papers. Secondly, they are saying any political party that has not done intra-party elections or have not gone to the convention will not be allowed to be on the ballot. And this is in accordance with Article 6 of the Constitution of Zambia, which states that any political party to participate in the national elections must have had intra-party elections. Now the question is how many of the political parties that we have meet these criteria that the Electoral Commission of Zambia is asking before you are put on the ballot. It is for this reason that after analyzing all the political parties, I've had discussions with a lot of political parties, and I have come to the conclusion that Ali Karawa's Citizen Fest has been a consistent political party which has met all the criteria that the Electoral Commission of Zambia is asking. I don't want my Lok Shalamoni Mamoni. I don't want tomorrow to regret. And by the way, Arik Alava is very experienced. He has participated in presidential elections before, and he has been building his support base. So I have decided that I will back and support Arik Alava in the 2026 presidential and general election. And I want to urge other people that are well-meaning to say that if we want to remove the UPND, we must all concentrate on one political party and one presidential candidate. And in my view, it is my opinion and my strong view is that Ali Karawa meets all the criteria that the Electoral Commission of Zambia are asking for. It is therefore just reasonable that we support Ali Kalaba. And I believe that Ali Karawa can make it. Is a reasonable and strong candidate. Going by what is going on now, I think it's only reasonable that we start. Engagement is the best approach.

SPEAKER_02 46:38

We are going to have elections. And some of you leaders are waiting. You are waiting for the day the ECZ will tell you that no, you are you don't qualify. Then you now call your supporters that no, if this one is not president, they are not going to be elections. If you know you are going for the elections, you know which offices to visit before nominations. You need to go to the CZ, you need to go to Registral Society, clear up your files, make sure that your files are intact. Your fowls are in order. Nobody balanced you start to blame me. Some of you even blame the president that no, it is because the president didn't want to make a stand. What has got the president? You have failed, you want to stand. So make sure that your files are okay. UBZ, our foul is fine. We are from registration of society. Everything is alright. So what if you are going to balance it? Sort out your files, go to PCZ, sort out your files, and let everything be there. Otherwise, we are in democracy. Some of the things that have been allowed under UPND, PF never allowed it. That's the truth. Yes, we are not blaming, but what I'm telling you is that the environment is different. So whether there is mingalato, no mingalato. You will have a window to see you have captures for two hours. You cannot have a letter without to me. I'm bankrupt. Somebody with five billion becomes bankrupt. It doesn't make sense.

SPEAKER_14 49:39

We are still mourning Archbishop uh Telesfor George Mpundu. Um and um there's a program that has been officially been released from Saturday. There have been activities singing at the cathedral with parish choirs and uh and the the rosary had gathered that was yesterday. Today on Monday, there were three activities. The singing continued at the cathedral and the gathering of the faithful at cathedral at 16 hours. This evening there is a requirement mass. Celebrant was Vicar General Father Andrew Simpasa, and uh the choirs continue to sing tomorrow, on Tuesday. The choirs will continue to sing, but at 16 hours there will be a rosary by the faithful religious and clergy at the cathedral, and at 18 hours there will be another requirement mass. This time it will be by uh the right reverend Aaron Andrew Chisha, Emeritus Bishop of Mansa. So the Right Reverend Aaron Andrew Chisha, the Emeritus Bishop of Mansa, who deliver the homily tomorrow, and the choirs will continue to sing. On Wednesday, again the choirs continue to sing, then they will receive the body of Emeritus Archbishop Teles Fong Pundu. And it will lie in state um in the John Paul II chapel. The body will be received on Wednesday and it will lie in the chapel, and then burial takes place uh on Thursday. It will be a full of activities uh from morning. Um and the service will be presided over by the mass will be presided over by Dr. Alec Banda, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Lusaka. And then there will be burial that will follow at the Cathedral of Child Jesus burial site. Remember, bishops are buried not in your ordinary cemetery, they bury them at church. The Pope is buried right at the Vatican. And uh similarly, bishops are buried at uh a secluded place, especially in the church grounds. For priests, they can, you know, the church can secure burial side, but for bishops and archbishops they are they lie instead. They lie at uh at usually the cathedral. Let's go back to our topic and I'll be opening the phone lines. You've seen President Haka Inde Ichilema suffer embarrassment. That's why I keep on playing that video where he was saying, what is that video again? We can play it just briefly, we can play it just briefly, where he he he complains about people telling him that I'm peace, and he was protesting about that.

SPEAKER_07 53:00

Six. This story I'm hearing that the president has a pita council of Zaluza, the president has a seven.

SPEAKER_14 53:37

So far, six ministers have crashed out of the race. The latest was the former minister of foreign affairs, and that's a very key portfolio. It's among the top five portfolios in any cabinet across the world. Mulambohaimbe has crashed out and endorsed his rival Musawaile Mlewa, who uh probably will be the candidate for Lusaka Central. And he's not the only one. Remember, we started with uh Garin Kombo, former minister, he said he wasn't going to recontest. Awakarambawa Jack Mwimbo has insisted even when he's not popular, and he saved 30 years. Similarly, like Sylvia Masevos, she saved almost 30 years as an MP. She went to parliament under the Zambia Republican Party when there was a breakaway. Uh with uh BY did the breakaway party in uh 2000 and 2001. So she won that seat under ZRP. She returned to the Ford, to the MMD, under Mwanawasan. She was a minister and MP for Chongwe. She returned under Michael Sata. You know, she returned under President Hakainde Ichilema, but she's insisted she go ahead. But other ministers, Douglas Siakarima, Minister of Education, has also fallen out citing, they are citing various reasons that they want to support the president, that their families have look, you are unpopular. So is your president. That's the only reason. And you are being wise. Many people would proceed to get the uh uh uh uh the gratuity from parliament and burn it. And that's why you'll be surprised that many ministers are broke later. Because their last money, even if they are not popular, they try to force their way in. And they will burn their last gratuity, their last payment into the subsequent campaign. And when they lose, you know, they become paupers and people will be laughing. But why don't you a minister? It's because of those decisions. Here it is. Many ministers are not popular, and smart ones like Moulamboimbe, instead of forcing an adoption, he has decided to back out. Douglas Yakarima for Siavonga said, I'll I've been an MP since 2006. And he says, I want to be with my family because I've been away from my family for over 20 years. Um, Garin Kombo, we know he didn't want to be embarrassed by President Akainde Echilema, who is fighting him, so he fell out on his own. Um who are the other ministers who have fallen out? The other two or more ministers that have fallen out. Um and mayors. Rodney Skoomba, young, vibrant minister of tourism, not wanted in Livingstone. They think that he did nothing. And instead of facing embarrassment, he has withdrawn from the race, including the mayor, the corrupt mayor, who was saved by that very, very strange judgment. And I hope that one day a proper government will review that case for Constance Umishevo Mleabai. She the court said she corruptly obtained that 180,000 kwacha. But they didn't convict her because the money was deposited in another account, whatever the flimsy excuse by uh uh magistrate Trevor Cassander was very flimsy to let her go. Instead of facing the temerity of the locals, she had stolen that money, corruptly obtained it, evidence was laid. But the magistrate Trevor Cassander used a flimsy issue that either she's not the one that withdrew the money, even if there was confirmation that the money was for that particular bribe, and let her go. So she's also withdrawn. Um it is good that uh so Rodney Skumba, Mulambo Ahimbe, and others have all withdrawn from the race. The president is unpopular. There's no way your MPs are unpopular and you think you are popular. No. Your MPs are your campaign managers on the ground. You might try to get a new lease of life by by swapping them. You might need to do that, but essentially it's quite difficult. So, Mr. President, you may have to face um the reality that you're unpopular. That's why I'll come and address an issue that uh he says you he he is got a head start with 60 seats.

SPEAKER_07 58:35

Six. This story I'm hearing that the president has a pizza comma council of Zaluza. Look at the president of the parliament, look at the wood out in the how is the president going to run the government? The president is consent. The president move to the president, the president move, the president move the president needs to be able to do it.

SPEAKER_14 59:58

Thank you very much. Someone has written in the comments that Mal Sampa has withdrawn his presidential uh candidate taluchi Lufia from the race. I don't know what reasons he gave, but that's a news that has been posted on my page that uh on the comments at Mal Sampa. Remember, you went live at the same time as I was discussing you. Let's discuss the issue tomorrow. Honorable Harikalaba, Orange Alliance and Citizen First President who start tomorrow to file in his nominations. There'll be Enoch Roosevelt Tonga, uh, who we also expected to file at 11 hours. Francis Mandona Mwape of People's Party, Sebastian Koplander's Party. Um we have a presidential candidate from Forum for Democracy and Development. Remember, these were filed in. These were filed in urgently by, I mean by Forum for FDD, which was a special purpose vehicle for Tonsey Alliance, but they've since been a change. But they are still listed here. So unless FDD has resolved its issues, Bran Moonwill is likely to file under the other political party that has been listed at 14 hours at uh the National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity at 14 hours. Um Dr. Shtaluchulufiawa is supposed to file under Patriotic Front at 15 hours as as as I've heard Mal Sampa has withdrawn. His candidature will understand the reason he has done that. Then Kasonde Simwenda, Economic Freedom Fighters Party. We don't know if he's been released. Comment comment there. So tomorrow, the big one, Harikalaba in the morning and Brian Munduile, what will happen? President Akainde Chilem has been boasting. He's been boasting that uh he will win just at filing of nominations next week. He's going to get 60 seats. This is what he's telling stakeholders. This is what he's telling um, this is what he's telling key people and is his officials are beginning to project that. Why is he saying that? He says he thinks that uh the opposition will not file or independence will not file in Southern Province, where he has 29 seats, and he thinks that uh he'll be complemented by 26 seats from Western province and 19 seats from Northwestern Province. Um he thinks that the opposition will not challenge him. He could be right because the the bulk of the candidates are almost other than just two candidates, um the gentleman from New Focus Party and um the gentleman from New Focus Party uh uh Siamneni was the only one from the south. And uh the rest are from what you would call Chambeshi Lwangwa River. They are either from eastern or from the northern block. So Hichelema is boasting, and he says then he has pockets, for example, in the copper belt, Indola Rural, he says he will do very well. Then he has pockets, you know, in the stronghold for the opposition. And of course, his biggest strength is that the PF is not standing. The PF is trying to stand through its derivatives, like, you know, Bran Mundwile's party or Makebizulu's party. But essentially the PF is not on the ballot, as you saw, that Mao Sampa has withdrawn the presidential candidate. So President Ichilema is boasting that he's got a head start and is going to start with um with um with about 60 seats unopposed. Um remember there's been delimitation and the seats have been increased from 156 to 226. Um and the provinces with the biggest um the biggest uh uh seats is southern province with 29, copper belt 29, and eastern province 29. Let me take this core and I'll come back to you.

SPEAKER_07 1:04:28

Six. This story I'm hearing that the president has a fita council of Zaloza. Look at the present dependent parliament, look at the wood in the president. How is the president going to run the government? The president will present the president move to the president, the president move, the president move the president needs to be a food, no, no, no. Twenty twenty-six. We want our own men in dollars.

SPEAKER_01 1:06:39

There was a request from uh Mr. Kelvin Walia for his party to be moved to Thursday. You will note that the commission has been uh engaging with the respective political parties even after that schedule was made available, just so we can manage this process uh better for the political parties, candidates, but as well as for ourselves. So Mr. Foge is coming on Thursday. There was a request from uh Mr. Kelvin Walia Fube's party to be moved to Thursday. You will note that the commission has been uh engaging with the respective political parties even after that schedule was made available, just so we can manage this process uh better for the political parties, candidates, but as well as for ourselves. So, Ms.

SPEAKER_16 1:07:39

If they decide to drop off, they're allowed.

SPEAKER_11 1:07:43

Look, you can pay the thousand the hundred thousand and decide not to stand, you can change your mind and decide to stand on a different political can can can is that allowed?

SPEAKER_16 1:07:57

Yeah, well, if you do that, then there's there has to be a pre-processing or a processing afresh of the thousand people. Because those people who came here to support you, they are supporting the candidate on that particular political party. Isn't that true? Now, if you decide to go next week and say I'm standing on a different political party, then you have to bring the thousand supporters from that political party. Because I don't think uh membership of political parties interchangeable. If you belong to one political party today and you support a candidate today on that political party.

SPEAKER_14 1:08:44

Thank you very much. I was just um picking a call from Honorable Mal Sampa. Remember, I'd announced here that he was going live on his uh, he had just gone live on his page when I went live as well, and I didn't understand the decision. But uh he has confirmed that the decision he has made, and the decision the PF has made, the one the faction run by Mal Sampa, is that they will not feature a presidential candidate. So he has withdrawn the candidature of uh uh of Dr. Chitalu Chilufia. That's a decision he's made. He says they are going to participate at parliamentary and council level and other positions, but he will not uh feature a presidential candidate. The PF. We're trying to sponsor Dr. Chitalu Chilufia, but um Mao Sampa, who's the current legal president of uh the embattled PF, says he will not sponsor a presidential candidate. So we'll get more details, but I've heard it from himself because I'd sent him a message and I wanted to understand the decision that he had made, and that's a decision he has announced at his press conference that the PF, the faction under him, will not feature a presidential candidate. So our saying that uh there is bosting from the UPND that they will have a head start with about 60 seats unopposed, especially in Southern province, western province, and uh uh uh uh northwestern province. Remember, after delimitation, southern province has 29 seats, western has 26 seats, and um northwestern has 19 seats, uh central has 23, um Copper Belt has 29, but the bulk of the delimitation happened in in rural areas where UPND is strong. That delimitation itself was um a very, very funny delimitation. Let me let me give you an example of why that delimitation was. Can you imagine what plow got five seats? Um let me look at uh