235 Views …says party will only field parliamentary and council candidates Miles Sampa has announced that the Patriotic Front (PF) faction he leads will not field a presidential candidate in the August 13, 2026 general elections. Speaking during a press briefing this evening, Sampa said the decision was reached after wide consultations within the party […]

235 Views …says party will only field parliamentary and council candidates

Miles Sampa

Miles Sampa has announced that the Patriotic Front (PF) faction he leads will not field a presidential candidate in the August 13, 2026 general elections.

Speaking during a press briefing this evening, Sampa said the decision was reached after wide consultations within the party and careful consideration of the challenges the former ruling party has faced since losing power in 2021.

Sampa, who maintains that he remains the legally recognised PF president until 2028, said the party had chosen to step back from the presidential race “in the best interest of the party.”

He said the PF had gone through severe internal battles, court disputes and political turbulence since leaving government, adding that similar situations had happened to former ruling parties in other countries that attempted immediate political comebacks after electoral defeat.

“What PF has gone through is not unique,” Sampa said. “Many former ruling parties struggle immediately after losing power and it takes time to reorganise and rebuild.”

Despite withdrawing from the presidential contest, Sampa said the PF faction would still participate in parliamentary and local government elections in selected constituencies and wards across the country.

However, uncertainty remains over whether the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) will validate PF candidates due to the continued legal disputes surrounding the party leadership and ownership.

Sampa acknowledged the ongoing court battles and vowed to continue pursuing the matters until what he called “justice prevails.”

“We shall continue pursuing these matters in court,” he said.

The former Matero Member of Parliament also expressed hope that the various PF factions would one day reunite and rebuild the former ruling party into a united political force.

“I still believe that one day all PF factions will come together and work as one strong Patriotic Front,” he stated.

During the briefing, Sampa also warned President Hakainde Hichilema against allegedly using state institutions and undemocratic tactics to block opposition candidates from participating in elections.

He said Zambia had built a strong democratic reputation since independence in 1964 because incumbent presidents had historically allowed political competition and peacefully handed over power after losing elections.

Sampa cautioned that any attempts to manipulate the electoral process could damage the country’s democratic standing.

“Hakainde Hichilema himself would not have become president if the PF blocked him from contesting,” Sampa said.

He further warned President Hichilema against emulating what he described as undemocratic trends in some African countries where opposition leaders are allegedly suppressed before elections.

Sampa referenced Tanzania, claiming its leadership had faced criticism and isolation from democratic institutions over the treatment of opposition figures.

Asked which presidential candidate the PF faction would support, Sampa declined to endorse anyone, saying such a decision could only be made by the party’s Central Committee if necessary.

“For now, we are focusing on parliamentary and local government participation,” he said.

The development comes as presidential nominations officially opened today, with the PF faction initially expected to file nomination papers tomorrow.

The withdrawal of Sampa’s PF faction from the presidential race further reshapes the opposition landscape ahead of what is expected to be a highly contested 2026 general election.