IS ZAMBIA READY FOR PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES?

Opposition Leader Hakainde Hichilema is challenging President Edgar Lungu to a live television debate to discuss national issues, a call which has received annoying response from the ruling party.

Patriotic Front deputy Spokesman Frank Bwalya made it clear that President Lungu cannot be subjected to a debate against any presidential Candidate ahead of next month’s general elections.

Debate is good as it offers an opportunity to participants to explain their ideas to an audience.

High profile debates are common in Western Countries where people are treated to heated exchange of ideas upon which they make informed decisions.

In Zambia, a debate at that level is still in its infancy but at University level Candidates aspiring for Leadership mandatorily face an audience to outline their plans.

I do not know why President Lungu is not interested to take on his main challenger Mr. Hichilema, the president of the United Party for National Development?

It is a good idea for the nation to be treated to such a debate where a sitting head of State can engage in a war of words on national issues with his presidential opponents.

The late president Frederick Titus Chiluba considered by many as one of Zambia’s eloquent speakers never publicly debated against his rivals.

On the regional level former president of Malawi Joyce Banda in 2014 refused to participate in a presidential debate saying she was busy with campaigns.

During the same period current president Peter Mutharika was also absent.

Down South late Nelson Mandela debated then President FW de Klerk ahead of the 1994 elections.

Since then no leader of the ruling African National Congress has engaged in any debate, it says the idea is bad not even former president Thabo Mbeki or 

President Jacob Zuma has taken part in a presidential debate.

Lastly but not the least in 2009 Current Botswana president Ian Khama including a leader of the opposition Botswana congress party Mr. Gilson Saleshando snubbed a presidential debate.

Having cited those examples I want to point out that on the African Continent, a presidential debate is not a collect yardstick to determine who is a good Leader to govern a nation.

In the Western World such debates are for the elite or the literate in society, people who are able to scrutinize national policies with less explanation.

Illiteracy levels in most African Countries Zambia inclusive are too high where certain people do not even know the correct way to cast a ballot paper.

There is nothing wrong with a sitting head of State debating against his or her presidential Candidates but ordinary people do not base their judgments on how somebody articulate policies.

Assuming President Edgar Lungu went ahead to debate against Mr. Hichilema, the opposition Leader could be seen to have an upper hand based on his arguments at the failures of the current government.

I know President Lungu has what it takes to debate and there is no doubt about it but speculations is all over that the head of State fears Mr. Hichilema.

For instance on the education policy Mr. Hichilema wants to provide free education from primary level up to university Level.

President Lungu cannot afford to counter argue such a point for one obvious reason, he knows that the resource pool available may not support free education.

The stand point of President Lungu in the debate can be on the current existing national policies therefore making it almost impossible to act against such policies.

At the moment Mr. Hichilema has nothing to lose because he is a challenger like in boxing match such that he must knock down the champion through whatever means even enticing people with untested policies.

Character assassination between the two Leaders ranging from being called a non-believer to lacking leadership to me to some extent that has contributed to such a debate not taking place.

It is also important to bear in mind that in the African context questioning Leadership on accountability publicly is considered a taboo.

Despite Many African countries embracing democratic values, divergence no matter how objective, it is considered as lack of respect for Leaders, which should not be the case.

President Lungu could go to that debate carrying the office of the Zambian presidency that must be protected from unwarranted attacks from his opponents.

Media pressure forces presidential Candidates Even in the United States of America to debate against each other, because it is not mandatory.

Maybe it is time for all elective positions to be subjected to a debate by enshrining such a provision into the Constitution of Zambia.