The Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC)says it was unable to record and broadcast the planned Presidential debate sponsored by the Economics Association of Zambia( EAZ) which was scheduled for Pamodzi Hotel yesterday because of the criteria used to select participating political parties.
ZNBC Corporate Affairs Manager Masuzhyo Ndhlovu said the exclusion of other Presidential contenders was in the opinion of the Corporation discriminatory and did not promote equal access to public media platform.
He said the Presidential debate was meant to only feature candidates from UPND, PF, MMD and FDD who currently have representation in Parliament.
Mr. Ndhlovu stated that as a Corporation they felt that it would not have been fair to other political players contesting the January 2015 elections because they were also entitled to equal and fair coverage.
He said in a media statement that to ZANIS in Lusaka today that ZNBC is guided by the Electoral Code of Conduct and its statutory mandate as stipulated in Section 3 of the ZNBC Act, Chapter 154 of the laws of Zambia as amended by Acts No.20 of 2002 and 16 of 2010 which defines the responsibilities and functions of the Corporation.
He added that ZNBC widely consulted key stakeholders in the electoral process such the Electoral Commission of Zambia(ECZ) before arriving at its final decision.
I think ZNBC you are hiding something here, why taking so long to explain a simple matter?
That is exactly what we lamented that great debaters like The Poor People’s Party’s Muliokela left out.
There was nothing special about Edgar Lungu. Then it was kind of formality that HH could have made the other 3 candidates endorse him.
Why was the decision not to broadcast made just before the debate began? ZNBC must have known the participating parties before showing up at the venue.
This is a very unprofessional feeble excuse coming from a so called corporate affairs manager. If you were employd in a western country you would have been fired on the spot for giving such a silly excuse. We know you are a partisan corporation supporting the government of the day.
Overconfident Illuminati will be taught a lesson that they will not forget for generations to come. Ooops, sorry they will be finished once and for all. There would not be any Illuminati come February 2015.
ZNBC are right but probably for the wrong reasons – being 1] a possible law-suite by EAZ. 2] being manipulated by PF.
What HH should have done was to present himself & explain to the people why it flopped, he could have still debated with the others as they are BONA-FIDE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES recognised by ECZ, & by Electoral code should have same access to public media!!
HH is getting some poor advice, by showing up Lungu as chickening out, he would have been viewed as the more upright candidate, as well as have shown up the possible PF manipulation of ZNBC!
By denigrating the other candidates, shows up his un-statemanship, i.e. respect for others, it also becomes difficult for him to shake off his “under-five” tag, becoz it’s like he threw his toys out the pram upon…
Why did you go there in the first place then? Smelling a rotten rat!
SAYS ZNBC YOU PF BASTRARDS,YO KA EDGAR WHO CANT ARTICULATE ISSUES EVEN IF HE DEBATES WITH LUNSHI OR ULUPEFU IS A SILLY MAN NO SCOPE BRAIN IS SO THICK .
JUST SAY YOU WERE INTIMIDATED BY THE SO CALLED SELF GIVEN KING WHO ON 20TH WILL CRY UNTIL HE CRIES NO MORE
Surely only monkeys like the PF Ars.ewhore and cadre at ZNBC as Corporate Affairs Manager Masuzhyo Ndhlovu can come up with such a silly explanation. Who can believe that sh.it?
Did he leave it to the last minute or did he only realise this at the last minute when the debate had been anticipted for more than a week?
If we are to go forward for the better, such foo.ls must not be left in those jobs on or before 20 Jan. Things are changing very fast and surely such people will have to be made to account for their actions!!
it would have been a shame for the cooperate had it had gone ahead broadcasting without the involvement of other presidential candidates who were unceremoniously left out by unthinkable dunderheads. Good move ZNBC
Ba Dr Smash iyo mulibatutu! How can 11 candidates debate at the same time? This is not Zambia has got talent comedy show. This was a debate that Zambians needed to hear what lies or truths these potential 4 Presidents were suppose to tell us. Look at the American scenario, the British scenario, how many political parties are there? Do all parties debate? How can you possibly say Elias Chipimo will win the presidency? Absolutely impossible. Miyanda to win? Sondashi and you can go on and on ….. . I hope one day they put stringent measures for someone to stand as President, they must have representation in Parliament otherwise they are just spoilers.
Just look at the surname, Ndhlovu and it’s not rocket science to figure out where his allegiance lies. These buffoons should have thought about it before they even agreed to go ahead and chicken out minutes before the debates so that the organisers can find it difficult to rearrange for a new debate. Well better start counting your fingers dear because if PF falls, then U gona fall with it. These excuse you’ve given is utter rubbish and very arrogant to think Zambians will believe in that crap. Not long ago the courts instructed you to cover UPND because you where biased. How can you arrange a debate with 11 candidates? How shallow are U? That’s why their is the ruling party and the main opposition or two. Presidential candidate without any representation in parliament? Silly Nhdlovu.
WHAT IS A DEBATE? IF THEY CAN ARRANGE FOR 4 CANDIDATES, THEN THEY CAN EQUALLY ARRANGE FOR 11 CANDIDATES. IDEALLY A DEBATE SHOULD HAVE BEEN BETWEEN 2 CANDIDATES. THE WHOLE IDEA OF THIS DEBATE WAS ABOUT EACH PARTY SELLING THEIR POSITION TO THE ZAMBIAN PUBLIC.
IF THE PF DECIDE THEY WANT TO USE OTHER MEANS TO “SELL” THEIR CANDIDATE TO THE ZAMBIAN PUBLIC SO BE IT.
EL HAS A LOT OF GROUND TO COVER AND IF HE FEELS THROUGH DEBATE HE WILL NOT REACH AS MANY VOTERS AS THROUGH RALLIES, THEN EL WILL USE THE RALLY ROUTE.
EL IS USING THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO HIM TO THE OPTIMUM.
EL IS NOT BEING FUNDED BY DEVIL WORSHIPPERS LIKE SOME PEOPLE IN THIS CAMPAIGN.
EL YOUR TIME HAS COME.
Tongas and Bembas are so tribal that they think other Zambians adhere to that old archaic form of existing. No we do not, ZNBC did the correct thing. Let even the Green party debate, now that would be hilarious.
You are the mututu. How do bring in names and tribe in this debate. Why can’t you just debate without bringing tribal issues. God deliver you
Kambachabe
Your Party DNPU is not going anywhere and please just tone down on your insults.
Have you lived at Chikankata mission before? You sound very familiar .
Anyway I have some good news for you. PF is projected to win the January 20 Presidential by elections. Do you want me to say that again! Well, I don’t need to,just watch the elections results when they start coming in on January 21.
2015 vote PF ( Edgar )
I thank you
Emmanuel Mwamba aka Katondo Boys, Kambachabe is 100% correct. ZNBC knew ahead of time the debating parties. Don’t forget that you took over the ZNBC newsroom in November to cover only selected politicians in favour of Kaminamisa Lungu. you like Ndhlovu will lose your jobs if HH wins, so beware.
You knew too well who would be the debaters, so what was your van doing at the venue? At what time did you consult the stakeholders? This bad management on the part of ZNBC, You drive the equipment to the venue with intent to cover the event and then later on you drive back to your offices and after more than 24 hours you issue a statement. Were the stakeholders at the venue from which you consulted and arrived at your decision? Surely the public needs another statement to answer these questions.
Malabishi… while the explanation sounds legit, why did they agree to the criterion in the first place. Why wait all along and chicken out at the 11th hour? Typical Zambia, you wonder why we would never develop an inch in the next 100 yrs, your answer is right here.
It is not practical to host all the 10+ candidates at once due, in part, to time constraint… you really have to find a way to weed out all the pretenders and parliamentary representation looked like a fair way to do it. Besides it’s the sponsor who has to make that call, not ZNBC.
And if they were really keen they could have held another one for the others. But evn in America they just give a national debate platform to the 2 front runners. What’s the big deal, we know the race is between EL and HH.
Happy New Year to all bloggers.
Happy new year ba LT.
God bless.
May the good Lord bless you all. Happy New year and all be blessed.
Chiuta aku tumbike mMeanawakwitu. Uli na mahala pa bantu bonse abo bakuchita debate pano pa lusakatimes. Happy mwaka upya????
Hogwash! This is a sorry attempt to rationalize. ZNBC knew well before who the participants in the debate would be. Of course it goes without saying because someone had to change their schedule because of a hangover and didn’t show ZNBC found it necessary to call off coverage which they knew would lead to cancellation. Even giving them benefit of a doubt assuming the reason they are giving is the real reason for the decision taken then why did they wait until the last minute to communicate it to the organisers the intention was never to cover the debate. Either way it seems very suspicious.
Bravo ZNBC! This is the way to go.
That debate was meant for the Zambian people .We still need that Debate, and we want to hear all the presidential candidates Debate! We are the employers and this is the only way we can interview these Job seekers!!! Dont take us for granted if you want this job lol.
ZNBC liars! Just shup up!
If you want to listen to lungU just attend his rallies mudala. And stop yapping.
what else do u expect from znbc apart from lies, apologies, technical faults? i personally dont watch znbc coz of biasness . i prefer paying k300 to dstv than k3 to znbc tv levy just to watch one person, same things,,,,thought Masuzhyo is an intellectual kanshi ni same na Inutu Himanje in mmd days.
Am sure they only consulted stakeholders before the release of this statement. Didnt ECZ ok the debate?
Masuzyo, Masuzyo…you talk about criteria now when your team only left when it was confirmed that Edgar is not taking part. ZNBC is just full of cadres; was shocked that Kenneth Maduma is now regional Director….
This was the only way Lungu could run away from debate. However, 11 candidates is way too many.