Miles Sampa alarmed by Facebook campaigns

NOEL IYOMBWA writes LUSAKA mayor Miles Sampa I alarmed by the use of his face along with various musicians and renowned personalities on a particular theme of advocacy. In a statement issued in Lusaka, Mr Sampa observed that lately there has been a number of social media banners and posters depicting his face, along with the faces of various musicians and renowned personalities on a particular theme of advocacy. He said that there has also been an increase in the number of Facebook accounts utilizing his names and photos, some of them dubbed “Miles Sampa for President 2021”. “I wish to today distance myself from all posters that have utilized my picture in this manner. I also wish to distance myself from the Facebook accounts utilizing my name as a participant and subscriber to the underlying objectives and goals of the same. “I personally know many of the artists in the posters and have in many cases hired some of them for functions of my own. One of them even happens to be among the list of 20 that I had announced in 2018 as a personal advisor in my journey as Mayor. I however disbanded majority of the group last year due to various reasons.  “I have, however had zero to no connection and interaction in my recent history with the non-musical personalities depicted in these advocacy banners, “he said. The mayor also explained that Facebook accounts that were recently opened up and are being run by people unknown to him, he said that is unaware of their motives for doing so and that their gesture does not in any way have his blessing.  And Mr Sampa stated that in regards to posters circulating showcasing his wish to be a Presidential candidate in 2021 and even beyond then, he said that it is not on his to-do list as he takes no interest in doing so due to reasons best known to me.  “For clarification purposes, my support and endorsement of the 2021 Presidential candidate and beyond is the incumbent President His Excellency Edgar Chagwa Lungu of the Patriotic Front (PF) a party, of which I am a bona fide member. “The Patriotic Front ushered me to the office of Mayor for the Greater City of Lusaka, a position that I have always been content with. I wish to therefore ask that I be left to concentrate on my Civic duties at the Lusaka City Council and to not have my name and pictures associated in political rumours and schemes. “As my role entails, in a non-partisan manner I have done my best to execute my duties as Mayor. My office attends and indiscriminately offers services to all residents of the city regardless of their political affiliations. I therefore wish to emphasize that I would like things to remain this way for the remaining 8 months of my term as Mayor of this great city,” the mayor said. The Sun