Zuma versus Mbeki to start the great debates?

The Mail & Guardian, among others, is reporting the possibility of the ANC calling for an early election in order to reduce the impact that the breakaway party in contemplation could make in 2009. Gwede Mantashe the secretary-general of the ANC has dispelled this insisting that the focus will be on strengthening party structures rather than concerning themselves with dissidents.

Whether this proves to be the case only time will tell.

What is gaining impetus are the calls for debates between leaders regarding the issues of concern to all South Africans and the way in which the parties plan to deal with those. I fully endorse those calls but would suggest that senior analysts handle them with ample time being made available for detailed response rather than the short, hurried programmes of elections gone by.

By way of example when Adam Bolton interviews world leaders on Sky he has sufficient insight to introduce new questions based upon the answers furnished by his guest rather than simply reading off a set of questions prepared by the political editors and staff.

In addition debates must be limited to two parties or persons only, in order to achieve total focus.

In this regard we have heard calls for a debate between former president Thabo Mbeki and ANC President Jacob Zuma. You could get one of the fishing companies to sponsor it under the title “Opening the can of worms”. What would emerge from this debate is how much of Mbeki’s policies and strategies were his own and how much were the work of the collective. Of course the issue of the ‘arms deal’ and corruption would also take centre stage. Considering the fact that both Zuma and Mbeki have been deposing to affidavits and making statements back and forth regarding their ongoing dispute perhaps the party and country can be shot of it once and for all if they are allowed to cross swords. I would say publicly but they’re doing that anyway.

With Motlanthe, Zille, Holomisa, De Lille, Mulder and Lekota also available to you there seems to be no end to the showdowns that you could produce prior to the elections. Again I strongly suggest that debates be limited to two persons only.

Transparency is a powerful weapon in the toolbox of democracy. If this brings about greater accountability and lances the boils that are hidden beneath the cloaks of politicians then we will all be better for it. The ANC and the country for example would be a million miles better off if the ‘arms deal had been disposed of by now. The same can’t be said for certain individuals.

Let the games begin.