. Sampa

By HELLEN TEMBO –
FORMER Patriotic Front (PF) Matero member of Parliament Miles Sampa has formally rejoined the party with a call to members not to be hoodwinked by people forming political parties claiming that they are carrying late President Michael Sata’s vision.
Mr Sampa said Mr Sata was the founder of the PF and so anyone that genuinely cared for his vision should remain in the ruling party.
He said those that loved Mr Sata should support President Edgar Lungu who has taken over from the late leader.
Mr Sampa said this at the PF secretariat where he was received by Secretary General Davies Mwila yesterday.
He urged PF members to be patient and not act out of frustration as he did.
Prior to the 2016 general elections, Mr Sampa formed his own party, the Democratic Front, which he then took into coalition with two other opposition parties before throwing his weight behind the United Party for National Development (UPND).
He was initially deputy minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry.
“There would never be a Sata supporter outside PF because Sata and PF are inseparable and at the moment the one representing him is President Edgar Lungu,” he said.
Mr Sampa assured President Lungu of his loyalty.
He also appealed to those that had left the PF to rejoin the party.
Mr Sampa said during his isolation of over two years, he learnt that in politics, one should be loyal to the president and all his appointees.
Mr Mwila said Mr Sampa was welcome and as free as any other PF member.
He said Mr Sampa had a right to participate in inter-party elections.
Mr Mwila said President Lungu had directed PF members to recruit new members and embrace everyone because he wanted to work with everyone in the country.
Mr Mwila said the Central Committee had endorsed President Lungu as their preferred candidate but that did not mean that no one else could stand against him.
He urged all the party members to be disciplined.