PATRIOTIC Front (PF) president Miles Sampa has questioned how the government and the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) will raise USD 10 million for the nine parliamentary by-elections.

Yesterday, Parliament declared nine PF parliamentary seats vacant following their expulsion by Mr Sampa.

However, a few days ago, Mr Sampa and the other faction reconciled, prompting changes in the party leadership.

In his Facebook post last night, Mr Sampa opposed the decision.

“Where will boma (Government) and ECZ get over USD 10 million for these avoidable nine by-elections they want to create? The nine PF MPs are going nowhere, and even if the bullying continues to the by-elections, the people’s vote power will bring all the nine MPs back into Parliament,” he said.

The seats declared vacant are Pambashe, Kawambwa, Kamfinsa, Lunte, Shiwang’andu, Mporokoso, and Chitambo. The other seats are Lupososhi and Chilubi.

In delivering the ruling, Second Deputy Speaker Moses Moyo noted that the nine members were illegally sitting in the House.

“Honourable members, as a matter of practice, all correspondence is supposed to be through the Secretary General. Since correspondence was sent by PF President Miles Sampa and not Secretary General Morgan Ng’onga, the National Assembly cannot act on communication from Mr Sampa.

It follows that all members expelled by PF remain expelled,” he said.