The Patriotic Front (PF) has unveiled Sensio Banda as its parliamentary candidate for the Kasenengwa by-election slated for September 6.

Speaking at a press briefing yesterday, PF Secretary General Davies Mwila warned the opposition to stay away from the ruling party’s un-adopted candidates saying they were not for hire.

Meanwhile, Mwila appointed Vincent Mwale as the campaign manager for the Kasengengwa by-election to be deputized by Nyimba member of parliament Olipa Mwansa and her Sinda counterpart, Masauso Tembo.

“Following extensive deliberations, the central committee, of the 17 names of aspiring candidates who applied for Kasenengwa constituency, I wish to announce that the central committee today has adopted Mr Sensio Banda as party’s candidate for Kasenengwa constituency. Let me state that it is the position of the central committee that all who had applied to contest the Kasenengwa constituency are expected to remain loyal by understanding that there can only be one candidate at any given time. We therefore urge all aspiring candidates to emulate the spirit of the 31 Lusaka mayoral candidates who regrouped and moved as a team after the adoption of Lusaka Mayor His Worship Miles Sampa. We did not see any independent candidate in the Lusaka mayoral race and we do not expect to have any independent candidate in Kasenengwa,” Mwila said.

He said the central committee settled for recommendations from the grassroots.

“We are aware that some opposition parties are waiting vultures to entice those who have not been adopted this time around. The central committee holds the new views that none of those who had applied but not adopted is for hire. These are distinguished men and women and we invite them to come on board and join the campaigns to assure and ensure victory in Kasenengwa constituency and five local government by-elections. Kasenengwa constituency was our seat under the late Honourable Victoria Kalima, may her so rest in peace and we have an existing social contract with the people of Kasenengwa constituency. Let us all move together as a team to ensure our victory,” said Mwila.

“The central committee settled for recommendations from the grassroots because it is about them. We expect that there will be no violence in Kasenengwa and the five local government by-elections. All party members are therefore guided that no one will be protected if they engage themselves in violence. The patriotic front party is ready for issues based campaigns, ours is to sell development to the people of Kasenengwa. All the campaign manager for Kasenengwa will be headed by Honourable Vincent Mwale, the chairperson in charge of local government and housing in our party and he will be assisted by two honourable members of parliament Honourable MP for Nyimba madam Olipa Mwansa and MP for Sinda Masauso Tembo.”