EX-UPND LAW MAKER, SAMAKAYI, QUITS AFTER BILL 7 ROW

By BARNABAS ZULU

FORMER Mwinilunga Member of Parliament Newton Samakayi has resigned from the United Party for National Development (UPND), days after President Hakainde Hichilema publicly singled him out as one of the Members of Parliament who did not support Bill 7.

In a resignation letter dated June 30, 2026, addressed to the UPND Secretary General, Mr Samakayi said he had reached the difficult decision after years of what he described as coordinated frustrations and disrespect within the ruling party.

He recalled joining the UPND from the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) in 2013 and said he had played a key role in growing the party’s support in Mwinilunga, including financing by-election campaigns using his family’s resources.

Mr Samakayi said the treatment he and other MPs received following the Bill 7 voting outcome was the final straw.

“The last event over irreconcilable Bill 7 voting outcome is a case in point, where we were treated like common criminals, stripped off of our portfolios,” he wrote.

“Having agonised over all these occurrences, I have come to a conclusion that I have no value left in this place (UPND), the best is for me to leave,” Mr Samakayi stated.

He thanked the party leadership for the opportunity to serve and expressed gratitude to the people of Mwinilunga for their continued support despite what he described as the current frustrations.