Expelled MMD national secretary Major Richard Kachingwe was chased by police in Mpongwe after attempting to impose Goodson Chilufya as a surrogate candidate of the former ruling party in the February 28 by-election.

Maj Kachingwe who had ferried rented cadres to the nomination centre was turned away before reaching the venue and embarrassed in the presence of his supporters as well as other spectators.

This was during the filling of nominations for the Mpongwe parliamentary by-elections which was created after the PF government coerced area members of parliament Gabriel Namulambe to defect.

The MMD candidate Miniva Mtesa was optimistic of scooping the seating after boasting that she was a district commissioner in the area and knows the problems people were facing.

PF's Gabriel Namulambe was also sure of winning and that he will now embark on an aggressive campaign to woo voters.

UPND's Rabson Chilufya also expressed confidence of a possible victory. UNIP's Ken Chisenga and NAREP's Ndhlovu were also claiming that they will win the election.

In Livingstone, PF's Lawrence Evans, MMD's Fred Siasuntwe, UPND's Regina Musokotwane, UNIP's Green Mwanangombe and Revolutionary Party's Angela Ikabwe were all successful in filing of nominations.

A PF-aligned independent candidate, who was turned away after arriving later, could not even express disappointment after missing out and came out in support of the ruling party candidate. Elections for the two seats, and 25 local government elections, are set for February 28.