By Agness Changala
Miles Sampa has been legitimately elected as PF president, says Mafinga Member of Parliament (PF) Robert Chabinga.
But PF chairman for information and publicity Emmanuel Mwamba described the Sampa convention as an illegality which has been sponsored by the state.
Asked by Daily Revelation to comment on his suspension from the party by the central committee, Chabinga said
he has not received any letter yet.
Asked about the fact Sampa’s ‘convention’ has come after he and the other others including Sampa were suspended from the party, Chabinga said, “the convention was inevitable and we needed to go to the convention and that story which they were giving about the issue of money was not an issue.”
He said the PF was a bigger family and people had been in limbo waiting for their leadership, but they could not be held to ransom where a few individuals were holding on to positions, saying that was totally out of order.
“Unfortunately I can tell you now that I have received that Miles Sampa has scooped (the presidency), PF presidency and it will be very difficult for them because this was legitimate,” Chabinga said. “It was legitimate. They can’t say it’s an illegal. I know they will be comforting themselves that this was an illegal thing. But even them suspending us was an illegal thing. Purely illegal. Because remember, there was an injunction and there was contempt which was done by honourable Miles Sampa. So for me I don’t want to dwell much, I will speak more things on Sunday.”
He described the happenings in PF as what they called in Bemba as “malibu yakuilombela (calling problems upon oneself).”
“If we had gone to the convention even president Sata in his grave he must be turning. How do you suspend the chairperson of the party for merely making a comment that tatulefwaya abwelelepo (we don’t want Lungu to come back)? Really is that the way that you can … so whoever talks then must be shut the mouth?” Chabinga said. “Even when president Sata who was vicious when people talk he listened. President Sata would have not won elections in 2011 if there was this kind of bahaviour.”
Chabinga said leaders must learn to accept divergent view.
He said he would have a lot of things to talk about at his Sunday press briefing
But Mwamba described the Miles Sampa event as an illegality that was sponsored by the state.
“We have noted that an illegal activity is being held by suspended Matero MP, Miles Sampa at Mulungushi International Conference in the name of the Patriotic Front. We must emphasise that Mr. Sampa remains suspended from the Party and can not therefore hold any function or activity in the name of the Patriotic Front,” Mwamba said. “This activity taking place at Mulungushi International Conference is illegal and against the PF Party Constitution. The Constitution is very clear on how the General Conference or Extra-Ordinary General Conference are called and held. This issue was reported to the Police on Monday as persons masquerading as members of the Party were due to hold an illegal meeting.”
Mwamba said the PF was aware and have evidence that this was sponsored by the state to destabilize the PF and the opposition in general
“We understand that the UPND top leadership sponsoring this process have mooted what they are calling an “MDC plot” against the PF, whereby a parallel Patriotic Front will be created, sponsored, and supported by the UPND and State House,” Mwamba stated. “The MDC Plot is wereby, a faction of MDC led by Welsh Ncube of Zimbabwe was created against the legitimate MDC party led by Mr. Morgan Tsvangirai. Therefore Mr. Sampa is a mere stooge in this process as it is a UPND Operation.”
He stated that a heavy presence of Police was deployed at Mulungushi for Sampa to hold this illegal activity.
“This is a clear attack against Democracy and its growth. In 1991, the Zambian people decided that this country will be a multiparty democracy and the UPND must respect the will of Zambians. Since 2021 the UPND and State House have been engaged in concerted activities designed to destroy the Opposition,” stated Mwamba. “As we have warned before, today’s activity is part of a larger plot against the Opposition targeting the 2026 elections. Organs such as the Electoral Commission of Zambia, the National Registration Office and the Registrar of Societies are all part of this larger scheme as exposed earlier. We urge our members to remain calm and peaceful during this period. This chaos being perpetrated by Mr. Sampa, like the earlier activity to storm and damage the party Secretariat, will be dealt with.”
