(Last Updated on July 23, 2013 by Editor)
2013-07-23 12:09
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Special Report
Polls: Dlamini-Zuma expected in Zim
AU chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma is expected in Zimbabwe to assess the political situation in the country ahead of the 31 July polls, a report says.
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Cape Town – Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has
challenged his arch rival President Robert Mugabe to a live television debate
to discuss their party policies ahead of elections scheduled for next week, a Daily News report says.
Tsvangirai who was addressing thousands of people who
attended an MDC rally at Mkoba Stadium in Gweru said the debate would help
Zimbabweans see who has the best plan to uplift their lives.
“As we move closer to the election, I am also challenging
Mugabe to a live debate on television, where each one of us will articulate our
policies on how to make Zimbabwe a better place.
“I am challenging all the presidential candidates to a public
debate so that Zimbabweans can see who has the best plan to uplift the lives of
Zimbabweans,” Tsvangirai said.
Tsvangirai said he was not afraid of such a debate as his
party had clear people-oriented policies.
“This is a defining election because it is the last mile,”
he said.
In more progressive countries, politicians take part in
televised debates where they get the opportunity to articulate their policies
to the electorate.
In other mature democracies like the US, such debates have a
huge bearing on the outcome of the election.
If Mugabe accepts Tsvangirai’s challenge, it will be the
first of its kind in Zimbabwe.
Mugabe, however, has in the past turned down such challenges
and in the current campaign, the 89-year-old Zanu PF presidential candidate has
been criticised for spending campaign hours dwelling on history instead of
pushing through his party’s policies for the people if he is re-elected.
– News24
