WHEN a government spokesperson tells the opposition to “just use radio and TV” to engage citizens, we are not witnessing responsible leadership, we are staring into the face of democratic decay. Honourable Elvis Nkandu, the UPND Deputy Spokesperson and Minister of Youth and Sport, recently did just that. His directive to opposition political parties to rely on media platforms like radio and TV if they want to interact with citizens is not only arrogant, it is a dangerous distortion of democratic principles. We agree with Socialist Party leader Dr Fred M’membe that this is a clear sign of lost leadership. At the heart of a thriving democracy is the freedom of political participation, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, and...