From CHILA NAMAIKO in Lilongwe, Malawi –

. MWAANGA

UGANDA has officially sent an inquiry to the Zambian embassy in Tanzania over veteran politician and seasoned diplomat Vernon Mwaanga’s recent statement in which he concluded that the East African country’s February elections were flawed.
Dr Mwaanga is reported in the Post newspaper, dated April 16 this year, that people should restrain the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) from using the same printing company in Dubai that was used in the February election in Uganda because the ballot papers for that country’s elections were pre-marked to favour President Yoweri Museveni.
According to diplomatic sources, the Ugandan authorities sent an inquiry to the Zambian mission in Tanzania, which is in charge of Uganda, for Dr Mwaanga to furnish more information over his alleged statement on that country’s election.
“The Zambian embassy in Tanzania has received an inquiry from Uganda over VJ (Dr Mwaanga)’s statement that the recent elections held in Uganda were rigged,” the sources said.
The inquiry over Dr Mwaanga’s remarks was also confirmed by Foreign Affairs Minister Harry Kalaba here yesterday.
He said the Government would be ready to cooperate on whatever information Uganda would want over Dr Mwaanga’s statement.
Mr Kalaba said Zambia and Uganda enjoyed sound bilateral relations which should not be jeopardised by unverified media statements.
He said it was not in the spirit of good international practice to name other countries and bring into dispute their political processes.