President Thabo Mbeki’s ”refusal” to debate with Democratic Alliance leader Tony Leon on television is a sign of growing presidential arrogance, disregard for the democratic process, and disrespect for the people, the DA said on Monday.
DA chief election campaign spokesperson Douglas Gibson said Mbeki is also taking advantage of the calendar to elude tough questions.
The current parliamentary session ends on February 27 and Mbeki will not be attending Parliament for the purpose of presidential question time, and will not be available to answer questions or for debate before the election.
”In a modern democracy this is an unacceptably long period,” Gibson said in a statement, dismissing African National Congress spokesperson Smuts Ngonyama’s assertion that Mbeki is ”too busy” to debate with Leon and has ”better things to do” as nonsensical.
Before the 1994 election former president Nelson Mandela found the time to debate with then president FW de Klerk on television. During the 1996 election in the United States former president Bill Clinton debated with his Republican rival, Bob Dole, he said.
Last year Nigerian President Olusegun Abasanjo was prepared to debate with his main challenger in the Nigerian presidential elections.
All these leaders were able to find the time to debate their rivals because they recognised the centrality of such a contest to the electoral process.
”It is only Thabo Mbeki who does not have the time, or the courage, to engage in public debate. By running away from a debate with Tony Leon, Mbeki is running away from the voters of South Africa.
”It is time he stopped, stood his ground, and defended his record as president and the policies his government has implemented,” Gibson said. — Sapa