. Miyanda

By REBECCA MUSHOTA –
HERITAGE Party president Godfrey Miyanda yesterday struggled to roundup the required 200 supporters for him to file his nomination papers for next month’s election but managed to do so around 18:00 hours.
Brigadier General Miyanda became the 11th successful candidate in the presidential race, while National Revolutionary Party president Cosmo Mumba withdrew from the race and opted to support PF candidate Edgar Lungu, while the Democratic Front also withdrew from the race.
General Miyanda filed in his nomination before the election’s returning officer Acting Chief Justice Lombe Chibesakunda at about 18:00 hours after a struggle to mobilise the required 200 supporters.
General Miyanda was scheduled to file in his documents between 15:00 hours and 17:30 hours and while he came on time, some of his supporters came after 17:00 hours and in batches.
After successfully filing in his nomination, General Miyanda told journalists that the party did not struggle to raise supporters but their turning up on time was affected by the rains that had characterised the afternoon.
“We did not struggle to raise the 200 supporters. We worked late last night and verified 480 supporters with valid documentation who were ready to register as supporters,
“It is just that most of our members go to church on Sundays and by the time they were ready to come here, the rains had started,” he said.
Gen Miyanda said he had passion for the country and he had the desire to fight corruption which seemed to have found residence in State House.
Earlier, National Revolutionary Party leader Cosmo Mumba arrived at the scheduled time that he was to file in his nomination but said that he was withdrawing from the race to back Mr Lungu.
Unlike what most people were likely to think, he had the K10, 000 nomination fee.
He displayed K15, 000, saying that after visiting late President Michael Sata’s grave on Saturday, Mr Sata’s spirit told him that “Ifintu ni Lungu” and that was why he was donating the same money towards the PF’s campaigns.
The next political party scheduled to file in their nomination was Democratic Front, which also withdrew to back United Party for National Development candidate Hakainde Hichilema.
Democratic Front Secretary general Namakau Kaingu initially told journalists that they could not file in their nomination papers because of a hitch, which was neither money nor supporters.
Ms Kaingu refused to name the presidential candidate even after she came back around 17:00 hours saying it was an internal party matter.
Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) yesterday in a statement condemned the Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) for using their public address equipment during the filing of nomination by PF.
“The action by ZANIS gave the PF candidate undue advantage over the other candidates as no proof of hire was availed to the Commission by ZANIS.
“The Commission would like to further call on Zambia National Broadcasting Services television to give equal coverage to all aspiring presidential candidates,” the statement said.