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Matero Constituency lawmaker, Miles Sampa, has announced plans to petition Speaker of the National Assembly, Nelly Mutti, regarding the status of four Members of Parliament (MPs) from Eastern Province.
Sampa is seeking a ruling on a pending Point of Order concerning the four MPs who publicly supported the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) during the recent Petauke Central by-election.
Citing Article 72(2)(d) of the Zambian Constitution, Sampa argued that a parliamentary seat becomes vacant if an MP resigns from the political party that sponsored them into the National Assembly.
In a statement issued in Lusaka on Saturday, Sampa said that, based on this constitutional provision, there could be four by-elections in Eastern Province within the next 90 days, depending on how the Speaker interprets the matter.
He accused the four MPs of “blatantly crossing the floor” by pledging allegiance to the UPND despite being elected under the Patriotic Front (PF) ticket.
“They were sponsored by the PF but openly pledged their allegiance to the UPND. There is sufficient evidence, including pictures and videos taken by individuals and the media,” Sampa stated.
He argued that the MPs knowingly and voluntarily resigned from the PF by aligning themselves with the ruling party, citing past precedents where Speaker Patrick Matibini declared seats vacant when MPs, including himself, Chishimba Kambwili, and Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba (GBM), were found to have associated with other parties.
Read More: UPND wins Pambashe, Ntanda ward by-elections, NCP triumphs in Petauke
Sampa further referenced a 1994 Supreme Court ruling in the case of the MMD vs. Akashambatwa Mbikusita Lewanika and five others, which he said had set the precedent for MPs engaging in political activities with parties other than the ones that sponsored them into Parliament.
However, he clarified that mere association with the Republican President at state functions does not constitute resignation from an opposition party.
“The President was not involved in the Petauke campaigns. The MPs attended a UPND party meeting, dressed in UPND colors, and pledged their allegiance in the presence of national, provincial, and district UPND officials,” Sampa argued.
The alleged four MPs in question are Andrew Lubusha (Chipangali), Jonathan Daka (Chadiza), Misheck Nyambose (Chasefu – Independent), and Elias Daka (Msanzala).
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