Zambian President Lungu criticized for his remarks on Ugandan opposition

The President of Zambia, Edgar Lungu, has come under criticism back home over comments he made when he visited Uganda to attend the presidential swearing in ceremony.

Speaking on arrival at the Entebbe International Airport on May 11, President Lungu reportedly told the Ugandan opposition to accept the outcome of the elections.

Lungu further told the opposition leaders to change their candidates because they had failed to win any election in the past.

"There can only be one winner. After you win, you perform. So you allow your friend who has won to perform. When another election comes, you will have a go at it. If your party has got a president and he keeps losing, substitute him for somebody who can win; that is the message...If you have a football club, you can't use only one striker who doesn't score. My advice to them [opposition] is to accept the win and also change the striker because he has failed to score for all these years he has been on the football ground," President Lungu was quoted as saying.

 President Museveni was sworn in on May 12

Lungu's remarks were picked up by both the Ugandan and the Zambian media and sparked immediate rage on social media.

When he returned to Zambia, Lungu was asked about the matter during a live press conference he addressed at State House.

He said the Ugandan media was clever than him by contextualising his comments to give the impression he was ridiculing that country's opposition leader.
 
Lungu said he has no apologies to make and that he does not regret. He maintained that the will of the people should be allowed to prevail in elections of the continent.

However, Zambia's Positive Action on Human Rights Freedom and Development executive director Bright Jalila, was quoted as saying Lungu's conduct in Uganda has brought embarrassment to Zambia.

Commenting on Lungu's trip to Uganda, Jalila said the Head of State caused an embarrassing diplomatic incident.