“It is a lie, I voted for Bill 7,” – Samakayi

Samakayi calls President’s Bill 7 claim a lie and demands parliamentary record be checked

Former Mwinilunga Member of Parliament Newton Samakayi has rejected President Hakainde Hichilema’s claim that he voted against Bill 7, insisting that he supported the constitutional amendment and challenging anyone in doubt to examine the parliamentary record.

Samakayi’s response came hours after the President publicly named him among four former UPND lawmakers accused of defying the party on one of its most important legislative initiatives. Speaking to supporters at Solwezi Airport on Saturday, Mr Hichilema identified Samakayi alongside Gary Nkombo, Elijah Muchima and Elias Mubanga as MPs who had refused to support the bill.

The President told supporters that the four lawmakers had failed to back legislation that sought to introduce proportional representation seats for women, youths and persons with disabilities. He further argued that their actions forced the ruling party to rely on support from opposition MPs in order to secure the bill’s passage.

Samakayi, however, has flatly disputed that account.

“It is a lie, I voted for Bill 7,” he said.

His denial sets up a direct contradiction between the President and a former lawmaker who insists he has been wrongly accused. The dispute centres on a matter that can ultimately be resolved through official parliamentary records, which would show how individual members voted during consideration of the bill.

The issue has quickly moved beyond an internal political disagreement and into a question of public record. Should the parliamentary documents confirm that Samakayi voted against the legislation, the President’s account would be validated. If the records show he voted in favour of the bill, questions are likely to arise regarding how he came to be publicly identified among those accused of opposing it.

For Samakayi, the matter extends beyond a single parliamentary vote. He said the allegation has implications for his political future, reputation and relationship with the people he has represented.

“My plea is that please don’t obliterate my political career. We have different life time zones. I want to serve my people and Zambia in my little way,” he said.

Samakayi also defended his record of speaking on behalf of constituents, arguing that raising concerns about issues affecting communities should not be interpreted as hostility towards those in government.

“It has never been, and it shall never be a crime to remind those governing that you are forgetting us. That should not generate these levels of hatred being perpetuated by the party,” he said.

The former lawmaker appealed to his constituents, family members, friends and church leaders, maintaining that he had not committed the offence alleged against him. He said he was prepared to have his actions judged against the official record.

“May God judge me harshly if there is any iota of truth about voting on Bill 7. I request the church to pray about this so that we are healed,” he said.

The dispute has also drawn attention to the broader question surrounding the names announced during the President’s Solwezi address. The same parliamentary records that could verify Samakayi’s position would also provide clarity regarding the votes attributed to the other lawmakers named by the President.

At the time of writing, neither the Presidency nor the UPND had publicly responded to Samakayi’s denial. No clarification had been issued regarding the basis upon which the four lawmakers were identified, while the relevant parliamentary voting records had not been independently examined.

What remains is a clear disagreement between the Head of State and a former Member of Parliament who insists he supported Bill 7. The resolution of that disagreement now rests on the parliamentary record, which both sides acknowledge exists and can be scrutinised.

Until then, the controversy is likely to remain a prominent talking point as political activity intensifies across the country and attention turns to the events that unfolded in Solwezi over the weekend.