Miles Sampa Arrested Over Allegations That ECZ Set Up a Fake Polling Station (Read)

Miles Sampa, Fake Polling Stations & a Real Police Cell: When Facebook Rumours Meet the Cyber Crimes Act 🌶️

Zambian politics never disappoints, one minute you’re scrolling peacefully, the next a Member of Parliament is trending for allegedly discovering a fake polling station like it’s a new emoji on whatsapp, this time, the main character is Matero MP Miles Sampa, and spoiler alert: the polling station was fake, but the arrest is very real.

The Zambia Police Service has officially charged and arrested Miles Sampa for claiming that the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) had opened a fake polling station in Chawama. Not on Facebook drama levels. Not on radio banter. But on Cyber Crimes Act levels. Section 19(1)(d), to be exact. That’s the part of the law that deals with transmitting false or deceptive information. In simple English: posting nonsense with confidence.

According to police deputy public relations officer Chipo Kaitisha, this whole saga started after ECZ, through their Corporate Affairs Officer Raphael Phiri, had enough of the theatrics and marched straight to Lusaka Central Police Station on 19th January 2026. The complaint? That on 15th January, Honourable Sampa confidently told the nation that a fake polling station had been opened along Ring Road. ECZ checked. No polling station. No tents. No ballot boxes. Just vibes and misinformation.

Now here’s where it gets spicy. This wasn’t just a “my bad, I’ll delete the post” situation. The police said, no sir, you’re staying with us while we prepare your court date. And just like that, the same man who accused ECZ of running a fake election centre found himself waiting for a very real court appearance.

As if that wasn’t enough pressure, Republican Progressive Party national youth chairperson Constantino Mubita also jumped into the ring, reporting Sampa for the same issue. According to Mubita, these kinds of allegations aren’t just careless they’re dangerous. They shake public trust in ECZ, and once trust in elections is gone, chaos starts warming up on the sidelines.

Then came the final boss of the story: ECZ Chief Electoral Officer Brown Kasaro. Calm. Professional. Deadly serious. He demanded an apology from Sampa or promised legal smoke. Faced with mounting pressure, Sampa did what most people do when WhatsApp “informers” fail them he apologised. He admitted he was misled. Unfortunately for him, apologies don’t always come with an undo button.

Because while the apology was noted, the law had already woken up. And once the law wakes up, it doesn’t care about screenshots of informers, voice notes, or “my source is solid.” The Cyber Crimes Act doesn’t recognise “a guy I trust told me.”

This entire episode is a masterclass in why leaders should verify before they terrify. ECZ was accused of electoral fraud in public. The nation panicked. And in the end, it turns out the only thing fake was the information itself.

The Zambia Police Service says it remains committed to enforcing the law impartially, which is a polite way of saying: status won’t save you if your phone does the talking before your brain.

Moral of the story?
In 2026 Zambia, misinformation is no longer just embarrassing it’s chargeable. And before you accuse a national institution of running fake polling stations, make sure your facts are stronger than your WiFi signal.

Because today it’s a Facebook post. Tomorrow it’s a police docket.