By 
Miles Sampa has once again turned to the courts, this time challenging the Chief Registrar of Societies’ decision to alter the list of office bearers for the Patriotic Front (PF), which saw him replaced by Robert Chabinga as party president.
In his lawsuit before the Lusaka High Court, Sampa has also cited the Attorney General, arguing that his removal from the party leadership was unjust and should be overturned.
He insisted that the Registrar’s decision was unlawful and is seeking judicial intervention to restore his position.
Sampa contends that the changes violated Rule 15 of the Societies Act, which outlines the legal procedure for amending office bearers.
He further arguede that neither he nor key party members were given a chance to be heard before the decision was made, calling it a breach of natural justice.
He claims that the Registrar’s actions were not only procedurally flawed but also irrational, disregarding both the PF constitution and the Societies Act.
He maintained that the changes were implemented without due consultation, effectively sidelining him from his rightful position.
Sampa asserts that he was duly elected PF president on October 24, 2023, and that official records initially recognized him as such.
However, tensions arose after he dismissed Secretary General Morgan Ng’ona, who later allegedly manipulated the system to alter the leadership records without his approval.
According to Sampa, a search at the Registrar’s office on January 3, 2025, revealed a new list of office bearers modified through an online application filed by Ng’ona on July 4, 2024.
This, he claimed, contradicted his prior written notice informing the Registrar of Ng’ona’s dismissal.
Despite raising objections, Sampa alleges that the Registrar feigned ignorance of his earlier correspondence and refused to reverse the changes unless endorsed by six office bearers, including Ng’ona, whom Sampa had already removed.
He argued that this has created confusion and severely disrupted the party’s governance.
When Sampa’s legal team formally notified the Registrar of their intention to challenge the decision, the office allegedly refused to acknowledge the letter.
However, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs later defended the Registrar’s actions, asserting compliance with the Societies Act.
Sampa’s lawyers refute this claim, maintaining that the Registrar’s decision was unlawful and procedurally improper. They argue that the move exceeded legal jurisdiction and disregarded due process.
He is now seeking a quashing order to nullify the Registrar’s decision, a prohibition order preventing the enforcement of the contested amendments, and a declaration that the Registrar’s decision is unlawful and void.
He also wants a directive restoring the original list of PF office bearers, a stay of the decision pending full legal determination, and damages for alleged misfeasance in public office.
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