The PF has scooped 12 out of the 16 ward by-elections held on April 24, with the opposition UPND confined to winning only four seats in their strongholds.
According to official results, the PF managed to beat the UPND in the 10 wards by wide margins, with a shock result recorded in Lealui Ward in Mongu where the opposition party only garnered 597 against the PF’s 737, losing by 140 votes.
In the ruling party’s strongholds, results show that PF won Kakoma Ward in Mafinga constituency by a landslide 664 votes, managing 858 against the losing UPND’s 194 votes.
The PF won Mikunku Ward in Chinsali pulling 644 votes against the UPND’s 185, while the residents in Chiwuyu Ward in Sinda district, rocked by violence in recent days, elected the PF candidate with 1,125 votes against the UPND’s 694.
In Kalebe Ward in Shiwangandu district, the PF also beat the UPND who garnered 48 votes against the former’s 547.
A notable stalemate between the two major parties was recorded in Kanongo Ward in Kasempa in North-Western Province where 209 votes were cast either way.
On the other hand, the UPND’s victories came in their traditional strongholds of Mudyanyama Ward in Mwinilunga district in North-Western Province; Mushima Ward in Mufumbwe and Mwanza East in Monze where they beat the PF 1,271 to 721; 660 to 488 and 1,568 to 169 respectively.
