Zambian leader says comments on elections during Uganda visit misunderstood

Zambian President Edgar Lungu on Friday said it was unfortunate that his comments about leaders accepting outcome of elections were misconstrued that he was referring to the opposition leaders in Uganda.

During his visit to Uganda on Wednesday to attend the inauguration ceremony of President Yoweri Museveni, Lungu said leaders should learn to accept results of elections.

"The people's will should always be reflected in an election and people should learn to accept results. That is the most important thing," Lungu had told reporters upon arrival.

He had further told reporters that political parties should learn to change any leader who continues to lose in elections.

But the statement has ruffled feathers in Uganda, with Ugandans taking to social media to hurl attacks at the Zambian leader.

Lungu said during a state of nation address in Lusaka Friday that his statement was not directed at any politician in any country in Africa, but was generic.

He said it was unfortunate that the press in Uganda mentioned that the country's opposition leader Kizza Besigye who lost the February elections and has disputed the outcome.

"I did not mention any political leader in Uganda or Zambia. In truth I did not attack anyone. The journalists in Uganda contextualized my comment and mentioned people in Uganda," he said. Endit