Sampa defends nine MPs, criticises deputy speaker’s ruling

Matero Constituency Member of Parliament (MP), Miles Sampa, has vowed to take all necessary steps to support nine MPs who were stripped of their seats, following a controversial ruling by the Second Deputy Speaker, Moses Frank Moyo.

Sampa’s pledge comes after the Lusaka High Court overturned Moyo’s decision, which had declared the seats vacant.

In a video statement outside the High Court on Wednesday, Sampa stressed that the issue had gone beyond personal or party matters and had become a national concern.

He expressed his readiness to make personal sacrifices, including stepping down from his own position, if it would help reinstate the nine MPs.

“It’s not about me or the affected MPs anymore; this is about Zambia. I am even prepared to leave Parliament if that would mean the nine MPs can come back,” Sampa declared.

He argued that the nation could not afford unnecessary by-elections given its current financial challenges.

“It’s not in anyone’s interest for these MPs to lose their seats and for the country to hold by-elections, especially when we know the nation has no money. Avoiding these by-elections would be beneficial for our economy,” he said.

Sampa went on to accuse the Second Deputy Speaker of overstepping his authority, stating that the decision to declare the nine seats vacant was an inappropriate interference in the internal affairs of the Patriotic Front (PF) party.

“When the matter escalated to the point where it was going to affect their seats, I issued a letter of pardon, but it was ignored by the Second Deputy Speaker,” Sampa said.

He questioned why Moyo continued with the punishment when the involved parties had already reconciled.

“This ruling sets a dangerous precedent for Parliament,” he added.

Sampa warned of long-term consequences if such decisions were allowed to stand.

Meanwhile, PF official, Raphael Nakacinda, echoed Sampa’s sentiments, stating that the issues within the party were internal matters that did not require external intervention.

“We have the capability to resolve these issues within the party,” Nakacinda stated.

Sampa’s strong defense of the nine MPs highlighted growing tensions surrounding the ruling, with many within the PF viewing the decision as politically motivated and detrimental to the party’s standing in Parliament.

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