LOSING Choma Central PF candidate Kenneth Moola has admitted that the high cost of living is what cost his party the presidential election.

In an interview, Moola said he believed citizens had no choice but to choose the UPND.

“What I can tell you is that the cost of living became so high and of course that one came with a lot of factors. Remember in 2019 we had a dry spell in most parts of the country. Thereafter, electricity was a challenge and this time we still have a challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic which made essential goods go up. So to me, I agree, the cost of living became high and people of Zambia said maybe alternatively changing the government of which they voted for the UPND. We [should] give them time to work around and to do the correct things as they would want them to be done so that maybe the country and the people of Zambia can appreciate their services,” Moola said.

Moola conceded defeat and further congratulated Choma Central UPND candidate Cornelius Mweetwa for emerging victorious in the parliamentary elections.

“In an election, there is always a winner and a loser. I contested in Choma Central as an MP and that was more of my first time under the Patriotic Front ticket. I would say, for now, I would want us to appreciate the people of Choma for the calmness that they portrayed during our campaigns. I think our campaigns were non-violent. We campaigned without intimidation and the day of voting came. Though in some polling stations we witnessed some violence but that is away. And at the end of the day, a winner was announced, that was my elder brother Cornelius Mweetwa under the UPND. That was an election and it is a competition where we were competing for that position and the results came out. To me I accept the defeat, the people voted and [it’s] Cornelius Mweetwa who they wanted. That is how life is and that is what we chose. We chose democracy and that is what democracy entails. There is a winner and a loser and to me, I congratulate my elder brother Cornelius Mweetwa for emerging victorious in the just-ended elections,” he said.

And Moola, who is also Choma PF District Chairperson, said he remained a committed PF member and further asked the new administration to embrace everyone.

“As for me, I think there is always the next time. This is a journey that I started and it is not something I cannot just end like that. I will still remain in politics and I still remain a very committed member of the Patriotic Front under the leadership of our party president, Dr Edgar Chagwa Lungu. I might have lost the presidential election but he still remains our party president. So I remain a very committed member and above all, I remain a very committed district chairperson for the party in Choma,” said Moola.

“Above all, we ask our brothers from the UPND to embrace everyone. These are politics they have won and President-Elect Hakainde Hichilema is not only a party president now, he is the President of the Republic of Zambia. What that means is that he is a President for everyone even for us people that are in the opposition. When he becomes President for everyone, it means that even the supporters from the UPND should embrace everyone so that the country can be at peace and we allow them to implement what they promised the people of Zambia.”