Socialist Party blames loss in by-elections on alleged illegalities perpetrated by UPND, vows to fight on

The Socialist Party (SP) says the temporal setbacks such as the loss in the just ended local government by-elections will not dampen the revolutionary spirit as it endeavours to grow into a strong and popular formation.

Party Spokesperson, Frank Bwalya, said this is because the party fully understands the illegalities that characterised not only the just ended ward by-elections in Chililabombwe, Lupososhi and Serenje, but other by-elections since the UPND formed government in 2021.

Bwalya said Zambians know that the UPND again sponsored violence, intimidation of political competitors as well as voters and engaged in many electoral malpractices such as vote buying.

He said the UPND also behaved as if they were above the law and even disregarded basic arrangements to facilitate peaceful campaigns such as the agreed timetable facilitated by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ).

“Our leader Dr. Fred M’membe and other members were attacked in Serenje and locked up by the police leaving the UPND members who perpetrated the violence scot-free,” Bwalya said.

He said in Chililabombwe, party members were also attacked by the UPND and the police were forced to lock them up only to release them after the campaign period elapsed.

Bwalya said against this background, the party will not make the mistake of not celebrating the strides it is making in popularising the socialist agenda.

“The main cause of our celebration is not the good votes our party received in the just ended by-elections but the interest of our people in the socialist programme,” he said.

Bwalya said the party under the revolutionary leadership of Fred M’membe will not relent but continue to engage the people peacefully.

He said the party knows that with growing dissatisfaction with UPND by the people caused by unfulfilled promises and mediocre leadership, the UPND will become even more violent and notorious in breaking the law.

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