Chikhwawa aspirants shun public debates
The National Initiative for Civic Education (Nice) Trust has bemoaned the tendency by some aspiring council and parliamentary candidates to shun public debates it organises to encourage citizen participation in democratic governance.
Chikhwawa Nice zone officer for Bwabwali Ward, Leonard Tembo, said in an interview recently, the tendency is detrimental to the entrenchment of good and democratic governance. He argued it deprives citizens a chance to engage prospective councillors and Members of Parliament (MPs) on developmental issues.
He said the practice is frustrating his organisation’s efforts to enhance democratic governance from the grass roots.
“Our experience shows that most aspiring councillors and MPs are not willing to avail themselves for public debates or village development committee (VDC) meetings to articulate their development plans,” said Tembo who is also the Namatchuwa VDC chairperson.
Senior group village head Namatchuwa confirmed the development in a separate interview.
“We applaud Nice for facilitating these debates, but the challenge is to get hold of the aspirants. I don’t know what their problem is,” said Namatchuwa.
Nice regional civic education officer (RCEO) for the South, Christopher Naphiyo, said his office facilitates the debates to provide platforms where the electorates can engage political leaders in meaningful discussions on various social and economic problems affecting their communities.
