Hjoe Moono
A few years ago, somewhere around 2008, Hon. Miles Sampa, then in commercial banking, expressed interest to stand in Materos Constituency under the PF’s ticket. In his expression of interest, Mr.Sampa stated that he had Matero close to his heart and that while he had done well for himself as a banker and was living comfortably in Kabulonga, he could not fanthom the idea of seeing Matero Constituency, a place close to his being in such a deplorable state. He stated that he was ready, willing and able to leave his lucrative banking career to join politics under the PF, then an opposition party, to help effectively represent Matero constituency.
For a while I thought, well, there goes the usual rhetoric from aspiring candidates: Saying the right things at the right time to woo votes. But on second thought, the fact that it wasn’t an election year, and that he was willing to join an opposition party gave me a benefit of doubt.
Well now he is Member of Parliament, for Matero, and deputy Minister, under the PF: Perhaps he had good vision after all!
What has caught my attention, and deserve mention, recognition and ululation are his efforts in keeping his promise to help better Matero Constituency. A number of initiatives have been show cased to us on facebook, and of course he got praises for that. The MetroCab idea, however, as an economist, caught my attention, and I would argue that it is perhaps the most supreme of all initiatives he has implemented in Matero, and cannot go with mention.
A Milestone Achievement
Hon. Miles Sampa’s idea of MetroCabs is a perfect illustration of selfless leadership aimed at elevating the living standard of the people that an MP represents. Let us be clear, from the start, that this is NOT an MP’s job! That Hon. Sampa has gone outside his Terms of References as MP to personally, and individually, through his network and banking experience to empower PSV drivers in Matero with Cabs surely deserves praise and recognition. While many MPs probably have private businesses, we have not seen how any of them have used these to empower the youths of the constituencies they represent. For this, we ought to rightly recognise the innovation of Hon. Miles Sampa in his quest for empowerment of the youths of his constituency.
That he has earmarked his expected gratuity as an MP as collateral for the acquired loan from Indo-Zambia Bank to secure the MetroCabs is poignantly selfless, and at this point I would say that he has eased the greatest hurdle most of us face in starting a business: Access to Finance. How many MPs have done this for their constituencies? We have professional MPs in Parliament whose role is to ensure re-election, and currently we hear of debates to have their gratuities increased to prevent them from being ‘destitute’ once they are out of parliament. Indeed, you will know them by their deeds. They say you cannot tell that a road is crooked until you see a straight one besides it. And yes, now we know them.
Having been raised by a taxi driver myself, I fully appreciate the initiative to empower youths of Matero. Many of our youths, no matter how well trained in driving they may be, cannot dream of owning a car in their lifetime. Many of our families rely on the one member of the family that may have a job, a katemba or uses some skill acquired. Driving is one such skill that is when acquired, and easily so, has continued to feed, school and take care of many households. An opportunity therefore to empower these drivers with a car once they have worked hard a while, is indeed what many would have hoped came many years ago.
What Hon. Miles has showed all those in parliament, especially those advocating for a pay rise, is that even with the little you get from Parliament, you can do one good thing for your constituency. As they say: A little goes a long, long way, many miles actually!
I must admit, I had never imagined that in our house of parliament one would be this innovative and use his experience and standing in society to better the lives of the people in his constituency. We cannot continue to talk about potential as a country, we must put this potential to work, and leaders are expected to lead the way especially in their constituencies. What Hon. Miles Sampa has done is to show us all, that what Zambia wants, what we want, a dynamic economy that generates the wealth to deliver rising living standards and better public services for all our people is feasible with simple yet effective ideas such as MetroCab.
Youth Empowerment & Confidence Building
The idea of MetroCab has the potential to enhance self confidence in the youths, especially the youths of Matero that we have a brighter and better future ahead of us, that with many like minds of selfless leaders, a strong, self-confident and outward-looking country, a country we can be proud of is feasible. I strongly believe that in constituencies, MPs should be proper public servants. MPs, whatever their party, should work for their constituents, and in an innovative way, MetroCabs in Matero is such clear example of MP’s roles in constituency development and community partnerships. I hope the other MPs follow the steps taken by the Matero lawmaker and empower their constituencies. Remember, Just a Little Goes a Long Way! Well done Miles, this is indeed a Milestone!
I wish most mps around the country could emulate this guy,that is a move in the right direction.
Well done Mr Millimeter Sampa.
How can a parent boast about feeding and caring for his own children? Lets give Hon. Sampa a medal for performing his duties, the reason he is an MP for Matero.
A lot of “powerful people” do not share there connections with young aspiring business people. I commend Hon. Sampa for knocking down some hurdles for business start ups in Matero. Next, look into other ventures in water and sanitation, solar power.
Kabimba must be fuming on why Sampa didn’t take the initiative through Ilunda Chalo LTD, a PF company hose CEO is Kabimba.
M. Sampa 5 – 0 Kabimba.
I didn’t like Sampa when he was in FAZ, but on this MetroCabs I have humbled myself and accept that Sampa has won!!
Sampa is way better compared to Sata and Kabimba put together. It is a shame he is associated with these PF *****ss has their president so rightly calls them. He might have his share of issues outside work but their is no doubting his performance when it comes to developing his constitution. Maybe one day we will see him working with credible people. Keep it up Hon. Sampa.
@Nostradamus, I must confess, I have equally eaten my humble pie! One imaging if all the MP’s embarked on business similar (not the same) ventures in their contituencies, GDP would rise significantly! I can only hope the initial beneficiaries, live up to ‘cashing in’ the correct amount every month. Off it will be interesting to do a forensic audit on the Heiger bus project undertaken by CEO of Zambia! Posterity will judge Sampa well!
We should give credit where its due, these days its common to have such kind of arrangement with taxi drivers, it works to there advantage, as they are taught to manage the vehicle i.e maintainance, production- cashing, they behave responsibly knowing that after 2 years the car becomes mine, I know of 1 guy in Luanshya who has acquired 3 cars in that kind of arrangement, he has employed other also. To politicians thats the way 2 go don’t do it privately how are we going to know HH is involved in helping the community when he does it privately!
There are a lot business men doing the same here on the Copperbelt and Mr Sampa is clever to create miles for his political career using the same…purely business nothing more!
MOST DO IT PRIVATELY BECAUSE THERE IS ALWAYS A BIG BUT DUBIOUS AGENDA BEHIND THEIR ALLEGED INITIATIVES. BEING OPEN AND TRANSPARENT IS A SURE WAY OF SAYING, “I AM DOING THINGS CLEAN”, AND AT THE SAME TIME INSPIRES OTHERS, TOO.
SAMPA IS ONE SELFLESS GUY WHO IS INNOVATIVE AND WITH A GOOD AGENDA TO EMPOWER THE YOUTH. LONG LIVE MR MILES SAMPA. WE REALLY, THANK YOU FOR EMPOWERING OUR CHILDREN WITH YOUR GOOD IDEA. GOD JEHOVAH BLESS YOU.
Well done Miles. Our next president
He could be the next president but do this in hiding Kabimba is watching
Well done Hon. MP I will do the same in the near future.
If we had more MILES the road to prosperity would be shorter! Instead we have Chishimba Kambwili buying salaula cars for 10 concubines.
Do we have a multiple choice in 2016?
If we had more MILES the road to prosperity would be shorter! Instead we have Chishimba Kambwili buying salaula cars for 10 concubines.
Do we have a multiple choice in 2016??!
How can some one honestly say its a business venture. And even if its is a business venture, is it not a good idea that some youths who do not have the opportunity for loans will survive and look after their families and also be able to own a car after repaying. Well done MILES!!! May God bless.
MAN! WHAT WE NEED ARE BUSINESS VENTURES. NOT NGOs WHO ARE ALSO A BEGGING BOWL. IT’S BUSINESS AND REAL BUSINESS THAT ZAMBIA NEEDS. IT’S A PITY MOST ZAMBIANS DON’T SEEM TO HAVE THE IDEA HOW BIG THIS METRO CAB IDEA IS. THAT BUSINESS WILL STAND THE TEST OF TIME BECAUSE OF ITS RIGHT CONCEPT. IF YOU HAVEN’T GOT AN IDEA- THIS IS GOING TO BE THE BIGGEST CAB COMPANY IN ZAMBIA AND IT WILL SET STANDARDS ON THE GROUND OF ZAMBIA HOW TAXIS SHOULD BE RUN. THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF COMPUTER CABS IN ZAMBIA WHERE YOU JUST JUST PHONE AND GIVE YOUR ADDRESS WHICH IS ENTERED ON THE DEDICATED COMPUTER BY THE DRIVER IN THE CAB. WE ARE SET FOR THAT NOW. AGAIN WELL DONE SAMPA.
Euro-Bond at work from the individual pocket but to be paid back from the tax payers’ money . Nothing remains secret forever, one day God will let know how this money are being shared by the self- centered politician elites. When poor people cry God answers them.
Iam very glad that iam among some Zambians who give credit where it is due. What Miles has done deserves commendation because he has exposed those MPs who think just about their belly.
I am giving free advise to some MPs who seem not to know or pretend not to know the reason of being an MP. The reason of aspiring to be a law maker is to serve the people and not to amass wealth at the expense of the electorate.
Well done Miles, surely God will remember you
The guy I want in the frame of Zambian politics is Given Lubinda. All these other politicians are drab and boring. Lubinda is smart, young and intelligent ideal for President. He is the prodigal son Zambia has been craving for after Chiluba, the schemer and Master dribbler. Lubinda will form a govt that will see Zambia prosper in this century. I can’t wait for his next move which is usually above the predictable rest. For all I know he is staying where he is, he is not forming a new party like all these others. He will make a move that is beyond anyone’s conception. Go Lubinda, Go Lubinda. People don’t understand the level at which he operates that’s why they call him a traitor.
Stick to the topic you muppet!
Mr. Moona are you done with polishing Sampa’s boots….I’m sure he will reward you for this….keep it up.
@jay jay kindly dont kill the messenger kill the sender, shooting abena moono nibumbuli.thats what we call blocks like you ku copala.
Little by little an egg would walk. We should encourage such ventures. Well done ba Sampa.
Every person has a good side to them. Just like a coin, every idea will have 2 sides to it and may be classified as either positive on one side and negative on another. The major problem I have seen in Zambia is that we as a people are way too negative and always choose to see the negative side of every person or idea. Let us own up and start wearing clear lenses to encourage postive action even when we do not like the source of the action perse. Zambia will be miles ahead if we do adopt such a behavior change as a people. Now to talk about national cultural change towards embracing positivity this is a huge task and could be one expensive undertaking- believe me much more complex that the popular constitutional change process.
I have said it and repeat, its the likes of racist saulosi and Kudos that alienate the South from the North with their engrained culture of k.u klax Klan natolafye (theft). The likes of Miles Sampa will help bridge the kilometres of enmity nd suspicion that should be traversed if there is to be any unity in this land KK christened Zambia (the amalgam of Northern Rhodesia and Barostseland).
Well done Miles and keep on keeping on…..and if today you stood for plot 1, you do have my vote. Simple, if you can help the down trodden today, you will do the same if you were President. Though, I have perhaps more resources, I have yet to give it away in the grand style you have done!
Excellent idea !
What credit where it’s due, gentlemen? What that Sampa has ventured into is purely a business. That Sampa is trying to run a pirate taxi business masked as a donation to poverty stricken Matero 40 year old youths, they will repay the loan with the weekly cashing and his gratuity will have been kept in some account somewhere….
You choose a befitting name, only the well known William Tekere Banda would think like you.
Miles Sampa, Matero is honoured to have you as our MP. You are truly a son of the soil and you truly care. God will surely re-emburse you the gratuity 10 folds.
I admire Miles’ visionary. From a public eye, people are seeing yellow cabs and youth empowerment. From Miles’ eye, he is seeing state house. If only the youth would emulate Sampa’s visionary characteristic, that would be the best empowerment this guy would offer. In fact it can cover a wide strength compared to those few benefiting from the cabs……Good idea though
his critics are calling it a “”business venture””.but citizen chiefs, they forget mr Sampa has taken the risk of lossing that money within a day if fate was to fall.Just taking that risk makes him a different leader all together. this IS what we call SERVANT LEADERSHIP.Sampa is a game changer in our politics now.parliamentary parasites will have to find something to do soon.
Amazing, gentlemen, welcome to the world of Structured Trade Commodity Finance, what Hon Sampa has done is exemplary, rather than give empty promises, he has done something practical and innovative,the thing is he has taken this advanced concept of STCF and tailored it to suit one of the very needs of his constuency, very brilliant, we need more fresh minded young politicians like him, instead of the same useless ideas of the past. to hell with all the haters. What a shame a country of only 13 million people always complaining all the time,
We need a young youthful president -Sampa 2016