THE people of Mangango Constituency in Kaoma District of Western Province recently ushered in a new Member of Parliament (MP) after a parliamentary by-election that was necessitated by seat nullification.
Rogers Lyambai Lingweshi of the Patriotic Front (PF) emerged triumphant in the August 19, by-election with 3,109 votes, beating his rivals from the UPND, UNIP, MMD and Alliance for Democracy and Development (ADD).
Giving a post-election analysis of the Mangango polls, Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) executive director McDonald Chipenzi said Mr Lingweshi deserved the victory because his message to the electorate was issue-based.
FODEP has been advocating for mature and issue-based campaigns ahead of the 2016 general elections so that the electorate makes their decision based on a particular candidate’s merit.
In thanking the electorate for their vote, Mr Lingweshi, a retired teacher pledged that he will not let his people down and will represent them wholesomely in Parliament.
His Party President Michael Sata backed him further by saying that Government had intensified the delivery of developmental programmes as enshrined in the PF manifesto.
It is good that Mr Lingweshi remembered to thank his voters for their vote immediately after he was declared winner of the election, this is as it should be.
Our leaders should always be mindful of the fact power lies in hand of the voter and that they decide who presides over their affairs in the Council Chamber, Parliament and State House.
With a background of teaching, Mr Lingweshi is obviously aware of the challenges affecting the country’s education system, especially at primary and secondary levels.
Mangango can be described as a remote part of the country today because it is lacking basic social amenities such as primary and secondary schools.
Most of the children in that area have little or no access to education facilities and Mr Lingweshi must work to change the status quo so that he has something to talk about when he returns to the campaign podium in 2016.
Government has also embarked on the construction of 650 health posts countrywide and it is certain that Mangango has not been exempted from this project.
However, it is up to the newly elected MP to ensure that his constituency gets a fair share of the health posts and that construction is expeditiously done for the benefit of his people.
Roads are vital to the growth of any region and through the Link Zambia 8000; Government is constructing new roads to enhance connectivity between the rural and urban.
If Mangango was previously only accessible by chopper and canoe, the people must see change and that is why their MP has been elected.
Mr Lingweshi also has the challenge of improving telecommunications in the area and that is why the Zambia Information Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA) is available to erect mobile towers in the rural areas.
If Mangango has not been covered yet, then their area MP should lobby ZICTA for such facilities to be present in his constituency.
All MPs have been continually encouraged by the Speaker of Parliament to visit their constituencies to acquaint themselves with the challenges affecting their people.
A good example of MPs who visit their constituencies regularly is Mr Emmanuel Chenda-Bwanamukubwa, Mwenya Musenge-Chimwemwe, Miles Sampa-Matero, Christopher Yaluma-Malole, Chitalu Chilufya-Mansa Central, Chishimba Kambwili-Roan, Poniso Njeulu-Shangombo, and Davis Mwila-Chipili and others.
Parliament has 150 elected MPs and it is important that these leaders should vist their constituencies to check on their voters’ needs.
It begs the question of whether some MPs have forgotten about the electorate or maybe is it that they are so preoccupied that they cannot visit the constituencies!
This platform hastens to remind our honourable MPs that national leadership is a noble call that must be adhered to by always remembering their voters.
The electorate are as important now as they are during election time and our leaders in Parliament must endeavour to be available for their people at all times.
Five more by-elections are in the offing in Solwezi Central, Kasenengwa, Mukushi South, Zambezi West and Vubwi.
All of them have been necessitated by court nullifications due to electoral malpractice and will be held simultaneously on September 11, 2014.
Candidates aspiring for these seats must ensure that their campaigns are issue-based to help voters make informed decisions.
This platform also wants campaigns that are violent-free and incident-free.
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