THE renewed calls for public debates between political leaders should be welcomed and encouraged, not trivialised or personalised. For far too long, Zambia’s political culture has been defined by name-calling, ridicule and crude language. Our leaders felt foul language symbolised political toughness. We reached a point where citizens began clapping not for ideas, policies or clarity of vision, but for whoever delivered the most colourful insult. That descent into political vulgarity impoverished our democracy and weakened the ability of voters to make informed choices. It is against this background that the emerging debate culture around Bill 7, violence and broader governance issues deserves serious reflection. Debate, by its very nature, is a civilised contest of ideas. It allows citizens to...
