Zimbabwe's televised Presidential Debate

by Ndou Paul

09 Jul 2013 at 10:32hrs | Views

We have seen in other countries, the Presidential Debates are held every presidential term and are vital for the citizens to vote for the next President of their choice.

Should Zimbabwe's Presidential candidates engage in a Presidential Debate like what we saw in America or Kenya. This reminds me of a programme that was being moderated by Mutumwa Mawere sometime ago.

Who could be the unbiased moderator?
Who could emerge the winner?
In what format can this be done?
Is it a good idea?

FIVE Presidential candidates

Mukwazhe Munodei Kisinoti (ZDP)
Ncube Welshman (MDC)
Mugabe Robert Gabriel (Zanu-PF)
Dabengwa Dumiso (ZAPU)
Tsvangirai Morgan (MDC-T)

A summary of several of their arguments for a Presidential Debate.

First and foremost, presidential debates are educational. In an era when many voters are not given ample time to start paying attention to the campaign, debates afford candidates the opportunity to provide informative, concise summaries of their major policy positions and viewpoints in a single evening. Research has shown that voters learn from debates. After watching a single debate, viewers are more accurately able to describe the platforms of the candidates and this often prompts them to seek out additional information about the candidates.

Modern presidential debates also provide one of the few indicators as to how the candidates might respond under pressure. Whereas the vast majority of modern campaign events are scripted and edited affairs, debates require candidates to be able to think on their feet and be able to respond to unanticipated events. In this sense, they serve as national "job interviews" for the office. If a candidate gets easily flustered trying to answer a simple question in a debate, it suggests that the candidate may not be able to handle the rigors of the pressure and unpredictability of the presidency. In contrast, when candidates are able to keep their cool during high-stakes events like live debates, it conveys confidence that they'll be prepared when the "3:00 a.m. wake-up call" comes.

Debates also force candidates to do what they should be doing anyways if they want to be president: know something and be able to speak intelligently about a wide range of issues. While the questions from moderators are often predictable, they sometimes throw curve balls that reward the candidates who are better prepared and informed to speak on a wide range of topics.

Despite these advantages, academics and commentators alike have criticized presidential debates, especially for how they're covered by the national media. The vast majority of post-debate coverage and spin from the campaigns focuses on the "horse-race" and how a particular phrase or gesture will ultimately affect the candidates' standing in the polls and electoral prospects. Comparatively little coverage focuses on the candidates' substantive answers to issue and policy questions.

Admin

10 Jul 2013 at 15:49hrs

Thank you all for taking part in this discussion. This Live Update has been closed but you can still comment at the bottom.

simmy

10 Jul 2013 at 15:45hrs

to tell u truth t seems welshman and dabengwa are being used to divide the vote dai vari vanhu the could have backed tsvangirai not am saying is very gud but a betta donkey than mugabe ..so plizzy welsh and dabengwa do it for us

SANTIAGO

10 Jul 2013 at 13:19hrs

TINGANZWA NOKUNZI SANCTIONS AS IF NDOAARIKUBA MADIAMOND ,ARIKUPA VANHU MAPURAZI HOBHO ...KANA KUBA MIGODHI IN THA NAME OF INDIGINISATION SPARE US ....SAVE DZII PASTATE HOUZ

Mwalimu

10 Jul 2013 at 10:34hrs

You cannot have a debate including Robert Gabriel Mugabe! He is above all human beings in Zimbabwe. How dare you suggest that he debates with simpletons like the other candidates? So spare us the trouble of even thinking about bringing our "Commander in Chief, Head of all households including all presidential candidates' households", to equal ordinary people. Perhaps Jonathan Moyo can stand in for him.

Jozi

10 Jul 2013 at 05:13hrs

Thats an interesting idea, who will be the moderator, Supa Mandiwanzira, Reuben Barwe, Ezra 'Tshisa' Sibanda, Eric Knight, Tamborinyoka, Muutmwa Mawere, Jonathan Moyo lol

Kokutyenyi

09 Jul 2013 at 23:46hrs

What we want to know are Save's views on gays since most of his admirers (Obama,Cameron,NGOS etc) support gay rights,

Anonymous user

09 Jul 2013 at 22:24hrs

Morgan has a lot of stuff to say obvious. That's why he is the most popular candidate causing so much panic in Zanupf who recently have rushed to organise an election in three weeks. Panic and fear . ZBC won't allow this because they belong to Zanupf . So who will host this ???

Samuel banhu

09 Jul 2013 at 20:44hrs

We want silent elections no rerun mgabe

Nyari K

09 Jul 2013 at 20:42hrs

I can imagine Tsvangirai saying "PARADIGM" in every statement he makes

mgemezulu

09 Jul 2013 at 20:04hrs

I think Welshman,Robert and Dumiso can hold a debate and then Morgan will hold a press conference thereafter.

Anonymous user

09 Jul 2013 at 19:51hrs

it will be an end to Tsvangira, we all know.

Nkosana Ndlovu

09 Jul 2013 at 19:37hrs

Its a good idea but our problem is who will host it

@Hippo

09 Jul 2013 at 19:30hrs

Where do you have spiniters? How are jails teaming with prisoners? Am failing to read your logic man. Can you bring in educated analysis don't be a Tsvangirai

HIPPO

09 Jul 2013 at 19:25hrs

Let the debate come if Morgan is a master of open zips how so we have spiniters still? If Robert is a whiz howso we have no currency and if Welshman is the genius how is it our jails are teaming with prisoners?am trying to match another fool's mediocrity pardon me guys.

mhondoro

09 Jul 2013 at 19:14hrs

Bring the debates, bring them on. Problem is we don't have fair moderators, most of our moderators will be afraid of Cde Bob. Cde Bob will b e given more time and the other guys will not be accorded enough time to tell grandpa whats up.

gwisai

09 Jul 2013 at 18:45hrs

What will they be debating on? If they are debating on opening their zips, Tsvangirai will win, if they are debating about how to kill an economy, Gushungo will come tops that's a bit obvious. If they are debating about legal issues Ncube will win. Do you think Tsvangirai will want to debate these guys?

Jamela

09 Jul 2013 at 18:42hrs

Kodwa madoda lifunani shuwa, libona kusengathi uTsvangi engamelana loMgabe lo Professor, lingafuni ukusenzela okunye. Indoda leyana yabaleka esikolo beseliyithi debate futhi, lingakwenzi lokho. Phela yiyo engaqala ukwala

mbusonzima

09 Jul 2013 at 18:40hrs

its welcome, pple need to sell their votes ,so they need to represent and market them we nee to know why must we vote for them

Hamamawoko

09 Jul 2013 at 18:38hrs

Save vano hwina apha, Mugabe hapanachaangatawure ngekuthi akawuraya nyika. Save ndozvo. Chokwadi ngechokuti Save ndovachataura chokwadi, bob hapana chaangatiudza. Save havana nguva yekutambisa vachino debeta nana sekuru. Bob anofanira kuno taura nevazukuru kwete na Save

Junior mafia

09 Jul 2013 at 18:37hrs

Its imposible in zimbabwe some politicians are too emotional u rather compliment rather than question them.

Debate

09 Jul 2013 at 18:35hrs

I think this debate will be a waste of time as Zim politics is not about policy. Zim politics is about whose from the biggest tribe. A 'proverbial donkey' has more chances of winning than someone with good policies. Zim politics is on party lines. People want to remove Mugabe first so whatever he says means nothing