The Zimbabwean libertarian activist writes: "It is a fact that Robert Mugabe and Joshua Nkomo vanquished colonial power and ushered in a semblance of democratic independence. Yet the fear of popular enlightenment has again sent [ruling party] ZANU-PF cowering behind imaginary walls of denial. The party insists that local presidential debates are unnecessary. The answer can only be that Mugabe’s ZANU-PF controlled ZBC [Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation] is so petrified of political competition that the closest that democratic parties are ‘hosted’ on local TV is when they are derided and ridiculed at ‘news time’. The thought of Mugabe debating on ZTV primetime - say against MDC presidential candidate Professor Welshman Ncube – sends shivers down the spines of ZANU-PF cronies. Their premonition is accurate - the old man’s archaic political ideology would be demolished!"
Mr. Ngwenya continues his commentary about Zimbabwean politics: "The tragedy is how this fear also permeates deep into the veins of Mugabe’s administrative structure. Minister Patrick Chinamasa during a BBC interview aired worldwide last week made it absolutely clear that no MDC presidential candidate would be ‘allowed’ to win an election. The implications of this statement are that neither Tsvangirayi nor Ncube will be permitted to air their viewpoints on local Zimbabwe television, let alone debate face-to-face ‘American style’ with Mugabe."
Rejoice Ngwenya: "I Wish We Zimbabweans Were As Lucky As The Americans In Having Presidential Debates"
