Retired veteran politician Vernon Mwaanga has justified his comments on the electoral process ahead of the 11th August elections.
Dr. Mwaanga has told QFM News that his comments are all being made in national interest.
He says his interest is neither to have one political party remain in power nor another party to assume power in the forthcoming elections.
He says his interest is to see a leveled playing in the August elections where none of the participating political parties will be disadvantaged or advantaged in one way or another.
Dr. Mwaanga states that he would like to see a fair and balanced electoral process where even state media will give equal coverage to both the ruling party and opposition political parties.
He says this is especially that the state media is owned by the people and not the party in power.
Yesterday Government said that it was disappointed with veteran politician Vernon Mwaanga for insinuating that the outcome of the February Ugandan general elections could have been manipulated in favour of President Yoweri Museveni by Ms Al Ghurairi Printing and Publishing House.
Foreign Affairs Minister Harry Kalaba has said Dr Mwaanga’s unverified allegations that the Ugandan elections could have been manipulated had the potential to sour the diplomatic relationship Zambia was enjoying with Uganda.
Mr Kalaba said Uganda was a sovereign state and Dr Mwaanga, a career diplomat, was diplomatically imprudent to drag the East African country into the Zambian politics.
Speaking at a media briefing at his office yesterday, Mr Kalaba said Dr Mwaanga went off diplomatic etiquette to impute that key voting materials for the Ugandan general elections were printed in Dubai and to claim that some of the ballot papers were pre-marked and ended up in the wrong hands.
Mr Kalaba said it was not in conformity with good international practice for Dr Mwaanga to have named Uganda and bring into dispute other political processes that were for the domestic jurisdiction of other states.
He said it was regrettable that Dr Mwaanga’s utterances were made but assured the Ugandan government that Zambia would endeavour to maintain good bilateral relations based on mutual interests and respect.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to state that it is not in conformity with good international practice to name other countries and bring into disrepute other political processes that are of the domestic jurisdiction of other states,” Mr Kalaba said.
Mr Kalaba said political players should at all times avoid naming other countries and political processes particularly in states where matters had not been fully verified because such unguarded statements could have serious repercussions on the bilateral relations of countries with which Zambia was in good standing.
Ba VJ !! Since when did you ever say or do anything in interest of this great Nation ????
Were we born yersterday !!!
VJ is right in my eyes
Thanks
BB2014
In my own view the place and country where the ballot papers will be printed must not be of a big issue. Our primary concern as peace loving citizens is how transparent is the whole process going to be…… Ballots can be printed within our country Zambia but for as long as there will be no transparency in the process it self for all stakeholders, malpractices will still exist. Lets not fight the place but the process, Lets not hate the country but the process……
BIBLE ILANDA ATI “UMULINGO ULINGILAKO ABANOBE NAIWE EOBAKAKULINGILAKO” VJ USED TO RIG ELECTIONS AND NOW HIS CONSCIOUNSE IS NOT AT EASE.HE THINKS PF CAN RIG THE WAY HE USED TO,,,,,,,NO DEAR,,,,,,BOLA PANSHI AS A FORMER INTELLIGENCE OFFICER ITS YOUR DUTY TO EVER SUPPORT GOVT OF THE DAY,BUT IN YOUR REGARD YOU ARE SUPPORTING OPPOSITION WHY?
BUTONGA NO BUKOTE BULEBOMBA?
IF THE STATEMENT VJ MADE HAD BEEN MADE BY HILLARY CLITON, IT WAS GOING TO RECEIVE CAREFUL ATTENTION. THE ONE GIVEN BY GUY SCOTT, A SERVING PF MP AND RECENT FORMER VICE PRESIDENT, DID NOT RECEIVE CONDEMNATION FROM THE GOVERNMENT. THE ZAMBIAN GOVERNMENT JUST DISTANCED ITSELF FROM IT. WHAT WRONG WITH AFRICANS? WHY DON’T WE HAVE CONFIDENCE IN OURSELVES?
But LT how do you caption the heading about VJ while the whole story is on Kalaba said this … Kalaba stated that Kalaba bla….bla. Is it the other way of capturing and brainwashing those who are neutral who do not see things with political blinkers?
Vernon Mwaanga should just retire and leave Zambia alone. He has outlived his uselessness. This is the man who was Times of Zambia first black Editor in chief appointed by KK to indoctrinate Zambians with UNIP’s humanism. This is the man who has never said anything about Electoral ‘level playing field’ when he was on the side of rigging governments. This is the man who is alleged to be on CIA payroll. This is a man who was arrested for drug trafficking but released on a technicality. This is a man who was never faithful to his wife but now claims to be faithful to Zambia! Puleeeze, ba Mwaanga, just go.
VJ is living in the past. The error of stuffing ballot boxes is long gone since we now use transparent boxes and counting is done at the poling station and results displayed and sent to the talling center All parties conduct PVT. So please forgive the old man he is living in the past.
If rigging was possible, KK or RB would still be presidents.
Yaba!!! But zoona Ba Mwaanga bapwa … ati interested in a level playing field!!! Since when did this twerp ever believe in that based on principle?!!! Level playing field … my foot. This is the same lummox who was in the forefront about “unwritten rules” of incumbency during FTJ.
He figured out a way to get to LPM after being at the center of denigrating him in favor of the General, then he pushed his way through RB always wanting to be relevant. The only government this cretin has not served in was MCS and ECL.
Ati … interest is neither to have one political party remain in power nor another party to assume power!! Kwisa? Bepeniko abasungu!!!
That was careless talk from an elderly person of calibre VJ, please admit you were wrong…………………!
Particularly why did he have to bring in another country in the internal affairs of this country. V.J. should just admit when there is an oversight in commenting. Nobody is perfect. He should not defend himself by saying he is not in support of any political party because that is a big lie. If his interest was to level playing field he could have approached ECZ privately not blowing the trumpet the way he did it.
USELESS, STATEMENT VJ. YOU WHERE IN MMD AND NEVER AT ANYTIME DID YOU TALK ABOUT LEVEL PLAYING FIELD .
Apparently some wisdom is backsliding into our aging celebrated Diplomat. What level playing field are you praying to prevail when you are undiplomatically dragging foreign nations unreservedly into local politics? In fact for me your esteemed role at the moment is to bridge the gap and reduce animosity between the biggest contenders in the forthcoming elections without bias. By using your celebrated and renowned skills as a diplomat. That is how far you can level and tone down their differences without appearing like you are siding with your brother from SP! Fellow Senior Citizen, leave the game to young ones and the voters, they will certainly settle the score inevitably and bury the hatchet a day after 11th August 2016.
All the same that vote has to be watched closely.
Njala yamunyokola uyu imbwa.
He is never known to work to earn money but to get it through talk and manipulation.
But circumstances have changed. No one wants this kind of people anymore.
So Dotolo mwanga, which ever university gave you this title is equally regretting that you ha e shown that you should be a grade 9 as you were at 21 when KK made you diplomat.
hh will never get it to plot 1. GBM keeps spoiling while Garry and others remain in awe.
He used to rig. Why is worried of others rigging?
Lock up this incompetent drug dealer. He must still be smoking mbanje.
He is the one who taught Zambians how to rig. Now that they have learned, he wants to change the lesson; to teach them to have clean elections.
When people called this old tonga f00l as chief rigger of elections,this broke nigga rejected ever rigging any election.SO WHAT HAS CHANGED NOW?ALL ZAMBIANS KNOW THAT VJ MWAANGA IS NOW UPND-A TONGA AND HE IS FEELING THE HEAT AFTER TAKING A TRIBAL ROUTE WHILE SEEING ON THE GROUND THAT PF WILL RETAIN POWER IN 2016!!PLEASE ECZ PRINT BALLOT PAPERS IN DUBAI AND NEVER LISTEN TO THESE “CHUUNDU CHAITWA” FOLLOWERS!!ZAMBIA IS BIGGER THAN UPND!!!GO PF GO!!
VJ was speaking as a private citizens. Kaaba is just being mischievous because VJ does not represent the PF government. He is also right to express the truth about a repressive regime like Uganda. Let us not pretend Uganda manipulated the elections, a lot of pre-marked ballot papers were discovered even before the elections. We want to have a free and fair elections in Zambia.
Yes VJ was speaking as a private citizen who is entitled to his opinion. He is not even in govt. I dont see how the govt is coming in to start apologising for an issue which is neither here nor there.
This Zambian foreign affairs minister is a very big coward. Or is the PF a government frightened little cowards. The other day they were shaking in their trousers when a private citizen condemned Mugabe. A few days later they are shivering at the mention of Uganda. Come on, be men enough! Secretary of State Kerry said negative things about Zambia regarding human rights, have the ralations between Zambia and USA been soured? Why do these cowards in GRZ always rush to conclusions. These are really a hopeless bunch of politicians who do not deserve the positions that they hold.
It’s an open secret that Uganda’ polls were marred with electoral malpractices of the highest degree. Museveni lost those elections by a wide margin but was declared winner and that’s what we don’t want. We don’t want to see a situation were a loser is being declared winner just because of selfish people who pretend to be independent whilst not. ECZ must not just talk about being independent but their actions must be seen to be independent. The question is how independent is ECZ whenall of their funding comes from government, all appointments are made by the president and only those who are loyal to him are appointed at the expense of professionals? There is nothing independent about our ECZ. After having said these, in my conclusion i would say, place and country were ballot papers…
You will reap what you sow.that’s why its not the number of years that make someone wise.
VJ the chief election RIGGER Zambia has ever known!!!!!!!!!!! Now that he is out of the system he wants Zambians to see Holiness in his face, ulabeja musa!
We are not kids Mr VJ, you are a UPND cadre period. Who does not know that?
Just feel free to associate with your like persons, iwe VJ, what is wrong with that? Or is it because you have been pretending all your adult life?
What comes to one’s mind once they hear the name VJ is ”rigging”
Let the old man rest. UPND are making this man look ”stupid” because of their hunger for power. Dont let VJ die a sad man he has had his time as a dirty politician right now he is history.
Ba VJ you are speaking for your bellly. We have not forgotten how you went to DRC and told lies before Levy came and fired you. Nor have we forgotten when you sided with HH in boycotting the prayer meeting and now you are talking rubbish.
Rigging is associated with the political party in power rather than the political party in the opposition. For this reason, it is inconsistent to talk about rigging and then deny incriminating the political party in power. On this issue, PF is showing consistency whereas UPND is showing inconsistency. All stakeholders, including investors, voters and political parties have an interest in a fair playing field. On that basis, it is prudent to campaign for one’s party choice openly without necessarily sending wrong signals. It is misleading to play hide and seek.
VJ you should be the last person to talk about fair and free elections. You are Zambian’s chief election rigger. So shut up.
VJ knows when rigging takes place,,,just ask him properly!!! He is worried… The problem is he can not agree that he did for fear of… you know who!!!LOL
VJ is very sick in mind, feel sorry for him.
I am sure VJ being a seasoned career diplomat knows what he is talking about. Lets not just write off what he stating . There is no fire without smoke. Lets be pro active than waiting for things to sour say we wish we listened. Not long ago no one took the burning of Mwambeshi Police Post in George/Zingarume area seriously. Had the authorities taken precautions these riots randomly taking place in Lusaka compunds would have been averted. Those tutemba’s which have been looted were making a difference. Some households have lost their investments. eg. rentals, casual employment, wholesaling outlets for Cement manufacturers and Zambian Breweries etc.
Pf cant be trusted they are bench of theives, period!
SINKAMBA WISDOM – Mushota for the first time your article above herein, makes sense which states ” VJ Mwanga is right”
It will not be the same song.Should we have proper proof of rigging Uzapya munzi.Zambia will on total fire.no jokes about.
open your eyes..VJ is the man
Zambian people should be careful of negative pronouncements. Even when the south African based company printed the ballot papers a known opposition party cried foul. You see such statements is what is incessing the citizenry. If today Zambia loses its credebility of being a peace heaven, it wont just affect PF but the whole country at large. Why should VJ today of the sudden become a responsible citizen and seem to care for the masses when all along he is known to be a chief riggar?
To VJ elections will be deemed to have been rigged if fellow Tonga HH is not the winner. I remember HH crying the last time he lost. This time VJ will join him in the crying game it seems.
ALL TRIBALISTS WILL CRY. HH IS OUR MAN PERIOD. VIVA GBM VIVA DR BANDA
The VJ I know of old, could not have said the things he said. Something seriously wrong has happened to this great son of Zambia. He could either be becoming senile or some of his marbles are coming loose. He needs prayers! A normal VJ could have apologized long time ago too. It is sad to see that in his late life, he wants to be seen as a tonga and not a national leader. Unfortunately we cannot choose tribes but we can choose friends. I thought VJ should be very conversant with this.
The poor reading culture has now gone into poor listening culture. If you examine VJ’s statement carefully you will realise lots of you are commetning out of ignorance. You have just followed the wind. Most of you have misinterpreted VJ’s statement because you rush to insult and you cant take time to read through things. Go back and read what VJ said before you come and blog insults.
Thats why you vote for MPs that cant read and they go ahead a pass a constitution that has grade 12 clause that bars them from parliament. Only to realise later with attempts to reverse things but too late.
Read Read Read and analyse before posting ignorance.
Scared of getting a dosage of his own medicine huh? Times have caught up with him
Kabiyeni uko naba VJ benu, what is difficult to understand about his nonsensical partisan statements?
VJ is a very competent person to talk about these rigging issues. He knows something. My only disappointment is how the ruling party is coming to support ECZ. I expected them to oppose this Dubai thing the way the opposition is doing it. Why is PF not worried about this Dubai issue?
VJ is write either you like it or not. if you ignore his warning it’s your own peril. Zambia will be on fire.
@ kaluba have you ever heard of Ms Paarl Media a South African based company? Do your research & you will find out why Govt. Will not spend time on issues that wont the country forward.
@kajamba, we know that you and your party want to see Zambia on fire, you have just confirmed it yourself. But you have just failed with the ritual riots, xenophobia riots, you failed with student riots, you failed to incite riots over retrenchments of miners, you will fail in whatever evil you plan you satan. And of course fail in August.
VJ is spot on. Why is ECZ not involving all stake holders in deciding where ballot papers will be printed. Infact ECZ should not waste time getting views from small parties that will not contest in these elections. They should only engage ,UNIP, HERITAGE, FDD, UPND and PF. The rests of the parties are not contesting .They will just be surporting other parties. BA ECZ, OF ALL PLACES WHY HAVE YOU CHOSEN DUBAI AND WHOM HAVE YOU CONSULTED . WHAT GUARANTEE IS THERE THAT PF IS NOT IN SUPPORT OF YOUR DECISION TO PRINT BALLOT PAPERS IN DUBAI.ANY WAY, YOUR DAYS OF RECKONING ARE COMING.
The United States commends the Ugandan people for participating actively and peacefully in the February 18 elections. While the vote occurred without major unrest, we must acknowledge numerous reports of irregularities and official conduct that are deeply inconsistent with international standards and expectations for any democratic process.
Delays in the delivery of voting materials, reports of pre-checked ballots and vote buying, ongoing blockage of social media sites, and excessive use of force by the police, collectively undermine the integrity of the electoral process. The Ugandan people deserved better. We are also concerned by the continued house arrest of opposition presidential candidate Kizza Besigye. We call for his immediate release and the restoration of access to all…
VJ is the most competent person to comment on rigging elections. VJ’s comments on the Dubai Printer are pertinent. The way the PF is responding to the allegations would seem to suggest that this Dubai Printer has been selected to rig elections in Zambia just like it did in Uganda. VJ’s comments are spot on and opposition parties can only ignore VJ’s comments at their own peril. Kalaba’s comments are irrelevant and besides PF stands to gain from this rigging. The threat for ballot rigging is real and Dubai Printer must be stopped from rigging our elections.
VJ has no issue, what’s the problem is Kalaba responding to a private citizen like VJ. Wanting to be seen to working meanwhile balefipenya.
This is a discredited old convict deserving of zero attention from all sane citizens.
country name calling is bad,i want to concur with mr kalala, mind u, we hav bilateral and multilateral relations that we put at risk. instead of spending alot of money on foreign companies govt shud inject cash in our local companies
Ka Kalaba and his Proud Fools what to hide behind diplomatic etiquette, what can Zambia lose if our relationship with Uganda soured because of the illegitimacy of Presidency there? Try that one here, you will have more scars on your forehead than the one you think you do not to have.
VJ is a UPND cadre and he wants to cause despondency in the country by issuing careless statements……a very useless old man.If he wants a job,let HH employ him at his farm in Namwala.ECZ is the only legal body entrusted to do work on behalf of Zambians based on tender procedures.