Two Candidates File for Masaiti

IN THE PICTURE LEFT TO RIGHT: Assistant Returning Officer Mr. Joseph Njabili, District Electoral Officer DEO Mr. Emmanuel Chilombo and Returning Officer Mr. John Musonda.

Two candidates successfully filed in their nominations to contest the position of Masaiti District Council Chairperson. The Elections will be held on 25th April, 2017.

The two, both female candidates, are Christine Chande of the Patriotic Front (PF) and Ennie Matutu of the United Party for National Development (UPND).

The by-elections in Masaiti District have been necessitated following the resignation of the Council Chairperson, Mr. Edward Musamba.

Prior to the nominations, which took place on 16th March, 2017 the Commission through its district staff engaged the main stakeholders who were to be involved in the elections to update them on the requirements as they fielded Candidates and on the Electoral Code of Conduct.

Among the stakeholders that attended the meeting on Tuesday 14th March 2017 were the aspiring candidates with their agents and Uniformed Staff and Civil Society who were met at a separate meeting.

Commission staff who attended the filing in of nominations are Public Relations Officer, Mr. Raphael Phiri, Senior Electoral Officer Mr. Zachariah Kunda and Senior Electoral Officer Mrs. Anna Nkaka, Assistant Voter Education Officer, Mr. Isaac Muyuni, Data Entry Supervisor, Mr. Christopher Munachuka, Assistant Electoral Officer, Mr. Bazolo Mseteka and Social Media Assistant, Mrs. Brenda Zulu
Meanwhile, the Commission also conducted the training of District Voter Education Committee members and Voter Education Facilitators for Masaiti on 17th March, 2017 following the nominations.

Thirty four (34) Facilitators and Ten (10) DVEC members were trained. The training was successful and Facilitators were deployed on 18th March, 2017. Voter Education commenced on 19th March, 2017 and was scheduled to end on April, 2017.

The Commission has also engaged the Nkwazi drama group of the Zambia Police to conduct Voter Education performances in Masaiti District for the forthcoming by-election. The Commission staff monitored the performances of the theatre group and it was a success as voter education messages were well disseminated.

The Commission also organised radio interviews for the candidates, who used the platform to sell themselves to the electorate, and explained their plans for Masaiti if voted into office. The radio programmes were in both English and Bemba recorded and produced by Radio Ichengelo in Kitwe.