By REBECCA MUSHOTA and HOPE BWALYA –

. SAMPA

A LEADERSHIP dispute has surfaced in the Democratic Front (DF) which Matero Member of Parliament Miles Sampa launched at the weekend.
The same party is being claimed by Lusaka lawyer David Chanda, who said he registered the political party on July 21, 2014 under the name Geunine People’s Platform, but later applied to change the name to DF in December 2014.
Mr Chanda said the Registrar of Societies permitted the alteration of the name to DF but was shocked that Mr Sampa registered a party with a similar name.
Mr Chanda labeled Mr Sampa as an imposter for launching a party that already existed.
He produced documentation proving that he was the interim president of the DF.
“It is a serious offence to impose yourself as a president of a political party and claim to be the leader. I am the leader of DF and he is not our member and he should have verified with the Registrar of Societies before naming his party,” Mr Chanda said.
He said he was going to report Mr Sampa to Police for alleged impersonation.
Meanwhile, Patriotic Front (PF) secretary general Davies Chama described Mr Sampa as a deceitful individual who could not be trusted as a politician.
Mr Chama said Mr Sampa could not be trusted as a few months ago he claimed that he would remain loyal to PF and its leadership.
“He is not a politician who can be trusted. Two months ago, I was holding a Press briefing with him where he said he would never leave PF and that only death could remove him, but now after two months the man has done the exact opposite of what he said,” he said.
Mr Chama said this in an interview yesterday, describing Mr Sampa’s conduct as deceitful, unacceptable and immoral.
PF Matero youth secretary Stanley Kafula said the DF would not manage to win elections, especially with the 50 per cent plus-one vote requirement for one to be declared winner.
Mr Kafula said Mr Sampa was not a factor in the PF or in the political environment of Zambia as he was unreliable.
Mr Sampa, however, received backing from Fourth Revolution (4R) Party leader Eric Chanda, who attended the launch of the new opposition party.
“When I see a young person rising up to fight for the freedom of the people of Zambia, I do not hesitate to give solidarity. That is why people saw me with him, I went to give solidarity. There is no right time to do things, everyone is entitled to make decisions, so even my comrade Sampa made a decision,” Mr Chanda said.
Mr Sampa could not be reached for a comment in both instances as his mobile phone went unanswered.