Honorable Miles Bwalya Sampa | |
---|---|
Elected member of the National Assembly | |
In office 2011–2016 | |
Constituency | Matero |
In office 2021–2026 | |
Constituency | Matero |
Personal details | |
Born | 26 December 1970 Zambia |
Political party | Patriotic Front |
Spouse | Nchimunya Hampinda Sampa |
Children | 6 |
Miles Bwalya Sampa is a Zambian politician, currently serving as Member of Parliament for Matero Constituency[1][2] and president of the Patriotic Front.[3] The veteran politician previously served as Mayor of Lusaka, having been elected in August 2018.[4][5] His election in 2021 would see him return to Parliament representing Matero Constituency, a position he served from 2011 to 2016.[1][6][2]
After the death of Michael Sata, the Fifth President of the Republic of Zambia, who was Sampa's uncle, Sampa was elected as President of the Patriotic Front at a controversial Patriotic Front general party conference.[7][8] His election was later deemed illegal by the High Court of Zambia, and Defense Minister Edgar Lungu, who would later be elected President of Zambia, was declared the rightful president of the PF.[9] Sampa was later appointed as Deputy Minister of Commerce in Edgar Lungu's government. He resigned and quit the Patriotic Front in January 2016.[10][11]
He attempted to form a party named the United Democratic Front (UDF).[12] Sampa entered alliances with Elis Chipimo's NAREP and Eric Chanda's 4th Revolution Party,[13] before eventually endorsing Hakainde Hichilema and the UPND to win the 2016 general election.[14] After the UPND lost the election, Sampa rejoined the Patriotic Front.[15]
He was elected as the Mayor of Lusaka in August 2018[4][5] before he reclaimed the position of Member of Parliament (MP) for Matero constituency at the 2021 general election.[1][2]
In 2023, he is leading a faction in contention to become the president of PF.[16][17][18]