Miles Sampa misses court, scrambles medical sick note to justify absence

Patriotic Front (PF) faction president Miles Sampa on Thursday failed to appear before the Lusaka Magistrates’ Court, citing illness.

When the matter came up before Magistrate Webster Milumbe, Sampa’s surety, Crispin Kabwe, informed the court that the accused was unable to attend because he was unwell.

However, Magistrate Milumbe questioned the explanation, observing that a similar excuse had been advanced at the previous sitting without any supporting medical evidence.

“The last time you told me the accused was unwell, but I saw him campaigning without any evidence that he was sick. Why should I believe you?” Magistrate Milumbe said, directing the defence to produce an official medical sick note confirming that Sampa was ill and on bed rest.

The matter was stood down for about an hour to allow the defence to obtain the required medical documentation.

When proceedings resumed, a medical sick note was produced on Sampa’s behalf.

Defence lawyer Jonathan Phiri then asked the court to take judicial notice that Sampa is a political figure and requested that the matter be adjourned to a date after August 13 to accommodate his political engagements.

The State opposed the application, arguing that the request was misconceived because court proceedings take precedence over political activities.

The prosecution submitted that criminal procedure does not recognise political commitments as a basis for delaying a criminal trial but left the matter to the court’s discretion.

Magistrate Milumbe granted the application and adjourned the matter to July 31, 2026, for mention, with the trial scheduled to continue on August 25, 2026.

Sampa, 55, of Nyumba Yanga along Leopards Hill Road in Lusaka, is charged with transmitting unsolicited or deceptive communication contrary to Section 19(1)(d) of the Cyber Crimes Act No. 4 of 2025.

The charge arises from allegations that he falsely claimed the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) had established a fake polling station during the Chawama parliamentary by-election.

Sampa, who is allied with the ruling UPND, was on Wednesday seen campaigning alongside President Hakainde Hichilema in North-Western Province.

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