06/06/2026
Frank Mutubila shares
It is said that the decisions we make today define the future we ultimately inherit. Today I find myself reflecting deeply, in a chronological sense, on the political journey of my nephew, Miles Bwalya Sampa.
First, I must state that Miles is one of the nicest fellows I have ever known, and I will always remain indebted to him for his loyalty and kindness. When I returned from Italy, where I served as Ambassador, Miles had just formed a political party, and I supported and promoted it, a decision that placed me at odds with the government, yet Miles never left me to the wolves.
Miles was a high flyer in the banking sector, and later served as Deputy Minister of Finance in the Sata Government, a path that once reflected great promise and national contribution.
After forming his own political party, he later entered into an alliance with the UPND, marking his first major political realignment. He subsequently returned to the Patriotic Front, where he reconciled with the late President Edgar Chagwa Lungu, restoring his standing within the party after earlier divisions.
Following the untimely death of the former Mayor of Lusaka, Miles was given an opportunity to represent the Patriotic Front in a mayoral by-election, further strengthening his reintegration into the party. Later, he was again adopted as the Matero Parliamentary candidate, receiving full support from the party, and at that stage he was widely regarded once more as a trusted figure within PF, even though the party itself did not succeed in that contest.
However, his political journey took a more disputed turn following the Patriotic Front General Conference held on 24th October 2023, which some senior members described as irregular and highly contested. That event became a defining moment that deepened internal divisions and marked the beginning of intensified leadership disputes within the party.
In the aftermath of those developments, reconciliation efforts again took place, including renewed engagement with the late Edgar Chagwa Lungu, under whose authority Miles was once more politically accommodated. Yet following the passing of the former President, the internal balance of the party shifted significantly, and the unity that had briefly been restored began to unravel.
Thereafter, following continued court battles over leadership and disputes regarding who the Registrar of Societies recognized as the legitimate custodians and flag bearers of the Patriotic Front, the political fortunes once again shifted in favour of Miles Sampa. This development was met with celebration among sections of PF sympathisers, he later distanced himself from his colleagues and established his own central committee, effectively creating a parallel leadership structure.
In the period that followed, he made a series of political declarations regarding his ambitions and future direction, including contesting parliamentary office. However, he later withdrew from his parliamentary candidacy, marking yet another significant shift in his political positioning.
I am not a politician, and from where I stand I am not certain whether public trust in him can easily be rebuilt or whether his political career can regain its former momentum. What is clear, however, is that in politics as in life, trust is fragile, and leadership is ultimately judged by consistency, judgment, and the ability to unify rather than divide.
Perhaps he has nine lives, as some would say, but what remains certain is that every life, no matter how many chances it appears to have, is ultimately defined by the weight of its decisions.
I wish my nephew well, with a heart that reflects both concern and reflection, and a hope that wisdom will guide whatever path he chooses next.
