Opposition Patriotic Front (PF) faction leader Miles Sampa has extended an olive branch to seven of the nine expelled lawmakers.
He says the “unconditional” amnesty is in a bid to avoid unnecessary by-elections following the Constitutional Court’s ruling yesterday which dismissed a petition against his leadership and the appointment of party secretary general Morgan Ng’ona.
The court ruled that the petition was not appropriately brought before the it and did not raise any constitutional issues for consideration under article 128 of the constitution.
It further stated that the petitioners failed to show how article 60 sub-article two of the constitution was violated in the election of PF president Sampa.
“Massive by-elections are also not in the good interest of the public and the nation at large that is currently undergoing immense economic and financial challenges. Accordingly, the Speaker of Parliament has been formally notified of this amnesty as per attached letter,” he posted on his Facebook page.
“The common intersection now for all PF MPs is to strengthen and not weaken the PF. All MPs are expected to exhibit this principle while agreeing to disagree with some on pertinent internal issues which hopefully we shall fully resolve in due course.“
The lawmakers under the amnesty are Ronald Kaoma Chitotela for Pambashe, Remember Mutala (Chitambo), Stephen Kampyongo (Shiwang’andu) Mutotwe Kafwaya (Lunte) and Christopher Kang’ombe for Kamfinsa constituency.
Others are: Brian Mundubile (Mporokoso) and Francis Mulenga Fube of Chilubi constituency.
However, without stating the reasons, the amnesty does not cover Musonda Mpankata of Lupososhi and Nixon Chilangwa of Kawambwa constituencies respectively.
