Sampa elected PF president at a parallel convention

The Patriotic Front (PF) parallel general conference has elected Commerce Deputy Minister Miles Sampa as party president at Mulungushi Rock of Authority in Kabwe.

The Matero Member of Parliament beat four other contestants after polling 908 votes out of 2,010 votes cast.

Mr. Sampa’s closest rival Kasama MP and former Defence Minister Geoffrey Mwamba polled 195 votes.

Former First Lady Christine Kaseba, who was absent from the general conference but was represented by an agent, was third  with only 20 votes while Commerce Minister Robert Sichinga only managed to get 7 votes in fourth position.

Former High Commissioner to Nigeria Seleman Phangula, who pledged to release the 1992 Gabon air disaster report, came last after getting only four votes.

Returning Officer Germano Kaulung’ombe announced the results at 23.50 hours to anxious delegates.

The Lusaka based lawyer however refused to declare a winner of the presidential elections citing an injunction granted to PF national chairperson Inonge Wina stopping Dr. Scott’s group  from holding the parallel general conference.

Mr. Kaulung’ombe explained that he could not declare a new president because the matter was scheduled for hearing on December 2, 2014 in the Lusaka High Court.

Another PF general conference on Sunday, November 30 elected Defence Minister Edgar Lungu as party president and subsequently PF presidential candidate for the forthcoming presidential by-elections slated for January 20, 2015.

Yesterday’s elections were however marred by withdrawals from three presidential aspirants namely Kabwata MP Given Lubinda, Agriculture Minister Wylbur Simuusa and Sports Minister Chishimba Kambwili.

Mr. Kambwili, who is also Roan Member of Parliament, cited illegalities in the electoral process as the reason for his withdrawal.