The United Party for National Development says it will not contest the Mkaika and Petauke Central parliamentary by-elections.

The United Party for National Development UPND will not contest the Mkaika and Petauke Central parliamentary by-elections slated for September 5.
The party has instead opted to contest Malambo and Mulobezi parliamentary seats.
UPND Deputy National Chairperson for Youth and Sports Development, Michael Chuzu confirmed this to Breeze News.
Mr. Chuzu says that during a meeting held in Lusaka yesterday, UPND resolved to allow the MMD, Movement for Multi-Party Democracy contest the Mkaika and Petauke central seats.
He says that UPND hopes that MMD will understand the decision taken by his party to contest Malambo because UPND also needs to establish its presence in Eastern Province.
And Mr. Chuzu says that the party is still consulting which candidate to float in the Malambo election.
He refused to state if former MP, Maxwell Mwale was among those who have applied to contest the seat, which he lost after the courts’ decision to nullify his election.