CHITALU CHILUFYA RESIGNS FROM PF AS PETITION OVER INDEPENDENT CANDIDATES TAKES NEW TURN
By Staff Reporter
Former Health Minister and aspiring Mansa Central Member of Parliament, Dr. Chitalu Chilufya, has officially resigned from the Patriotic Front (PF), just days after a petition was filed in the High Court challenging the eligibility of several independent candidates in the 2026 general elections.
In a resignation letter dated 30th May 2026 and addressed to PF Secretary General Morgan Ngona, Dr. Chilufya formally notified the party that he was stepping down from his membership with immediate effect.
The former minister thanked the party leadership and membership for their support, collaboration and shared experiences during his tenure as both a PF member and Member of Parliament, before wishing the party well in its future endeavours.
Dr. Chilufya’s resignation comes barely two days after activist Isaac Mwanza and a consortium of civil society organisations petitioned the High Court, arguing that a number of candidates who filed nominations as independents had not resigned from their political parties as required by the Constitution.
The petition lists several candidates and seeks an order compelling the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to remove those found to have remained members of political parties while contesting as independents.
Meanwhile, former Matero Member of Parliament Miles Sampa has taken a different path.
Responding to the ongoing debate, Sampa announced that he would not proceed with his bid to contest as an independent candidate for Lima Ward 1, saying recent legal developments left him with only two choices — remain in PF or resign from the party.
“Bill 7 plus Judge C.C. Zulu and Judge Mwila Kombe rulings left us two options only: stay in PF or resign to run as an Independent MP in Lima Ward 1, which I’d have easily won. I have chosen PF, for better or worse,” Sampa stated.
He further indicated that he could not bring himself to resign from the Patriotic Front because of his strong attachment and loyalty to the party.
With Dr. Chilufya opting to resign and Miles Sampa choosing to remain in PF and withdraw from the independent race, attention now shifts to other candidates named in the petition as the legal challenge unfolds ahead of the August 2026 general elections.