If PF loses legally, they can still win politically
Dear Editor, The UPND social media apologists are drawing parallels between Michal Sata kicking 22 PF MPs in 2006 and current Miles Sampa’s similar action of kicking out nine PF MPs whose seats have just been nullified by the Speaker of the National Assembly.
True, Michael Sata kicked out 22 MPs who defied his order not to attend the National Constitutional Making Conference ( NCC). The 22 MPs sought relief from the High Court and high court passed a positive judgement that the MPs were justified to participate in the NCC because they were representing their constituencies.
The major difference between then and now is that late Michael Sata was the legitimate PF president, though his action to sack 22 MPs was reasonably counter checked by the judicial process.
Miles Sampa is the NOT the legitimate PF president, he is just the pawn in the lawfare game plan of the UPND to decimate the PF. The overall target is to eliminate Edgar Chagwa Lungu from participating in the 2026 Presidential elections.
When Miles Sampa issued the ‘ eviction order’ of the nine PF
MPs, his claim to the PF leadership was already in court, but strangely the National Assembly Speaker, Ms Nelly Mutti ( SC) still went ahead and acted on an order from the leader whose legitimacy was before the court. Where is regard and respect for the due process here?
Under the MMD generally, under the Mwanawasa administration in particular, there were marked boundaries between the three arms of government. That is why it was probable that the high court could counter check Sata’s excesses of exercising the PF Presidential powers. Under the Hichilema administration, the Executive arm of government is just too overbearing and has encroached over the boundaries of the Legislature and Judiciary. Of course, this trend started in the PF reign. I hope, like many civic minded Zambians that the court will defend the public interest rather than seen to be promoting partisan UPND interests.
If PF and UkA alliance loses legally, they can mobilise the constituencies and have the same MPs recontest so that that win politically. This is the beginning of UPND downfall.