By Mubanga Mubanga
PF leader Miles Sampa says ka mayo ka nsunko (the woman who sniffs narcotic substances) and other PF bigwigs who held late president Edgar Lungu hostage when he was president are the same ones who are holding his body hostage even now.
And PF national chairperson Charity Katongo Banda also said she will not continue “ukukotela mubuchushi na mubupuba (growing old in suffering and foolishness), while “ba mwisa” (newcomers) to the PF, referring to Brian Mundubile and Makebi Zulu, were the ones who benefited from the party.
Speaking during a press briefing on Friday in Lusaka, Sampa said PF problems started in 2021 after the party lost the elections. He said the same people who were accusing him of destroying the party, were the ones who made PF to lose the elections.
“They are the same ones blocking his burial. All their political careers is using ECL’s name. When he was president they held hostage. After he lost, they held him hostage and forced him to come back. When he died, they have held his body hostage. Those are the people that are there. I won’t mention them names. But, if need be, l have no shame to mention them. They are the same ones who announced that Miles had destroyed PF. Yet it is them who made PF lose,” Sampa said. “It is them that made ECL lose in 2021. When they made ECL lose in 2021, that was the beginning of the problem of the PF, and the problems that we have now. So, when you hear any kapwamga saying ni Miles naonaula ichipani, just know it is those same ones, kwati kalya ka namayo aka nsunko (Like that woman who smokes narcotic substances ). Those are the ones who held ECL hostage. And they still want to hold his body hostage.”
He said they were now just putting the picture of Lungu and leaving out that of PF founder and president Michael Sata, saying to them PF started in 2014 after the death of Sata.
Sampa said the central committee on May 31, 2026 sat and unanimously agreed to support the UPND and President Hichilema.
However, Sampa stressed that the endorsement of President Hichilema did not mean the PF had joined the UPND.
“And the decision was that, due to economic strides scored in the last five years, ladies and gentlemen, and on behalf of the current bona fide members, on behalf of the bonafide PF here, l do hereby endorse President HH as the best candidate in the August presidential elections,” Sampa said. “After we have looked at all the candidates that are there, he is the best candidate for Zambia. It is worth underscoring that the PF has not joined the UPND. We have not joined the UPND.”
Contextualising his genesis with PF, Sampa said he used to work for Finance Bank but was maliciously fired from Finance Bank by the Bank of Zambia (BOZ) in 2010 because of his relationship with the late Sata.
He explained that he took the BOZ to court for destroying his banking career and won the case, and would continue taking BOZ to court for destroying his professional career.
“And between 2010 and now I have won many cases against the Bank of Zambia, and against Finance Bank and they keep compensating me handsomely,” Sampa said. “So even when they pay me, I go back, I win. They pay me again … and I am not finished with them. They destroyed my entire professional career that I had worked for; something on political grounds.”
Sampa itemized ten key reasons behind the endorsement, among them increased foreign direct investment, a stronger and more stable Kwacha, inflation reduced to single digits, foreign reserves reaching US$6.5 billion, payment of pensioners, implementation of free education, visible infrastructure development across the country and increased mineral production.
And Banda in a voice note said she seriously introspected before coming up with a decision to endorse President Hichilema that the opposition could not win the 2026 general elections.
She said they kept on accusing Sampa of having destroyed PF, yet the same people who were eating from the same table with late Edgar Lungu – while she and others were kept afar – were the ones who benefited from PF.
She said even without any material value involved, she was concerned at the lack of respect where she had been at home for a long time and nobody thought of even calling to work with her.
She said the same people immediately launched insults against her when they heard her mention that she would work with President Hichilema.
“I don’t owe anyone an apology. I joined politics as a youth, today I am growing old. Ndekotelafye mubuchushi, ndekotelafye mubupuba (should I continue growing old in suffering, in foolishness)?” she said. “Those who want to get the presidency today those are the same people who have benefited heavily. Me I don’t have anything but I held on, and I have grown old. I am 59 … (Brian) Mundubile found me in PF. Mundubile was MMD, he found me in PF. Abo bene Makebi Zulu, we don’t even know where they are coming from, but today they are PF, and they are claiming to be presidents. Then I should have also contested the presidency if at all I had the money. But those are the people who benefited heavily and then me I should just watch lyonse (everytime) ku wire.”
She said she initially sat at home without wanting to participate in anything, but she realised that she was a politician and had to do the right thing by participating.
“Apa I can’t even see the wind of change … If we lose better we lose where we have gone. If it means losing I will lose from the HH side,” said Banda. “Those who are saying they will win let them win so that we see how they will govern this country.”
