MORE than six aspiring candidates including suspended Livingstone Mayor Aggrey Njekwa have applied to contest the February 28 Livingstone parliamentary by-election on the United Party for National Development (UPND) ticket.

Suspended Zambezi Ward councilor Philemon Musonda, Sylvia Simanya and George Kalenga are among other candidates who have applied to contest on the UPND ticket.

UPND Livingstone District spokesperson Neto Halwabala confirmed in Livingstone yesterday and said his party's national executive committee would soon adopt a candidate for the by-election.

Mr Halwabala said the constituency and district had played their part and would now wait for the national party organ to make a decision.

He said his party had done a lot of ground work in readiness for the forthcoming by-election in the tourist capital.

In a separate interview, MMD Livingstone Constituency chairperson Matthew Jere said his party was still receiving applications from aspiring candidates but declined to disclose the names of the aspirants.

Meanwhile, more than 10 candidates have expressed interest to contest the February 28 by-election on the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) ticket.

The aspiring candidates are Winfred Mweene, Clement Andeleki, Gladys Kristafor, Lawrence Evans, Wilfred Chiyesu, Collins Mwanamwale, Elvin Sindowe, Laiven Apuleni, Zondhwayo Soko, John Mwamulima, Ruth Dante and Joram Mwinda.

According to some sources within PF in Livingstone, the names of Clement Andeleki, who is former Chief Registrar of Societies, and Gladys Kristafor, who is former Southern Province Permanent Secretary, ranks among the top favourites.

The Livingstone by-election fell vacant after former UPND Member of Parliament (MP) Howard Sikwela resigned from the opposition party and as area MP because of hostility from his former party.

Meanwhile, the UPND and the PF in Livingstone have condemned the Thursday clash between the police and cadres.