MULENGA QUESTIONS UPND’S ‘SELECTIVE’ ACCEPTANCE OF ELECTION RESULTS…as he congratulates President Hakainde Hichilema

MULENGA QUESTIONS UPND’S ‘SELECTIVE’ ACCEPTANCE OF ELECTION RESULTS …as he congratulates President Hakainde Hichilema LUSAKA – Political activist Warren Mulenga has questioned the UPND’s acceptance of the presidential election outcome while all its parliamentary candidates have challenged results from the same election through petitions. Mulenga, while congratulating President Hakainde Hichilema on his re-election and inauguration […]

MULENGA QUESTIONS UPND’S ‘SELECTIVE’ ACCEPTANCE OF ELECTION RESULTS

…as he congratulates President Hakainde Hichilema

LUSAKA – Political activist Warren Mulenga has questioned the UPND’s acceptance of the presidential election outcome while all its parliamentary candidates have challenged results from the same election through petitions.

Mulenga, while congratulating President Hakainde Hichilema on his re-election and inauguration for a second term, said the ruling party’s position raised questions about consistency in accepting electoral outcomes.

He said President Hichilema’s inaugural address had outlined an ambitious Grow Zambia Agenda focused on hard work, economic growth, job creation and improved welfare.

“The President’s inaugural address set out an ambitious vision through the Grow Zambia Agenda,” Mulenga said.

He said the President’s commitment to building on economic stabilisation by accelerating growth and creating opportunities deserved recognition.

However, the former Socialist Party (SP) Copperbelt provincial youth Chairperson questioned why confidence in the presidential result could not equally apply to parliamentary outcomes.

“President Hichilema and the UPND have accepted and celebrated the outcome of the presidential election,” he said.

“If the UPND has confidence in the electoral process and trusts the result that returned President Hichilema to office, why should the same confidence not apply to parliamentary results?” Mulenga asked.

He acknowledged that candidates had a constitutional right to petition where there was genuine evidence of electoral malpractice.

“The law must take its course,” he said.

But Mulenga maintained that democracy demanded consistency in accepting election results.

“Political leaders cannot selectively accept election results when they are favourable and reject them when they are not,” he said.

He urged Zambians to focus on unity, growth, jobs and improved welfare.