By 
Matero Member of Parliament, Miles Sampa, has raised the alarm over growing public frustration in the Luangwa Valley ahead of the June 26, 2025, Lumezi parliamentary by-election, citing the incarceration of former area MP Munir Zulu as a key source of anger among residents.
Speaking during a visit to the constituency, Sampa described the atmosphere as “tense but largely peaceful,” despite earlier violent clashes between ruling party cadres and supporters of the opposition Tonse Alliance, which reportedly left several people injured.
“There’s a lot of frustration. These are people from the valley — they’re very annoyed about Munir Zulu’s imprisonment and they want to express that through the vote,” he alleged.
Sampa dismissed social media reports suggesting the ruling party was leading in the by-election polls, calling such claims “disconnected from grassroots reality.”
“They can claim as much as they want, but the day will come and they’ll be shocked,” he said, warning that the mood on the ground signals a possible backlash at the ballot box.
He also condemned the use of military aircraft to transport ruling party campaign teams into the valley, arguing that such actions only reinforced a sense of abandonment among locals.
“That’s what actually annoys those people in the valley. You just bring these planes and meanwhile you’ve neglected us,” Sampa said.
He further criticized the current administration’s agricultural support programme, alleging that under former President Edgar Lungu, farmers in the region received more fertilizer than they did now.
Meanwhile, former Lumezi MP, Munir Zulu, remained behind bars, serving two separate sentences: a 12-month jail term for criminal libel handed down in April 2025, and an additional 18-month sentence for seditious practices imposed in May.
The libel conviction stemmed from Zulu’s accusations of bribery involving top government officials, while the sedition charge was linked to a social media post in which he alleged that President Hakainde Hichilema intended to dissolve Parliament.
Zulu has appealed the convictions, claiming his statements were made under parliamentary privilege and accusing both the Attorney General and the trial magistrate of infringing upon his constitutional rights.
Despite his legal setbacks, Sampa said Zulu remained “defiant and hopeful.”
As the by-election approaches, Lumezi may find itself at a critical juncture, with the outcome expected to reflect not just political allegiance, but also deeper sentiments around governance, justice, and representation in one of Zambia’s most politically volatile regions.
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