THE BBC AFRICA DEBATE: Children need to grow up in a democratic nation

By Brian Phiri

The British Broadcasting Corporation BBC held its monthly debate in Lusaka on the 26^th of September 2013.The debate that was held under the theme “Can democracy deliver for Africa?” was held at the Government Complex in Lusaka.  It was attended by various government representatives with the Republican Vice President Dr. Guy Scott being one of the panellists, opposition political party leaders such as the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) President, Dr. Nevers Mumba and party officials.  Journalists, college and university students, voters and the civil society also made the audience.

Don Damon Presenter of the BBC World Service Daily Radio and Alex Jakana BBC Africa presenter moderated the debate. The target of the debate was to find out if democracy is one of the best forms of government as to which Africa can be ruled by and Zambia was picked as it is thought to be one of the countries that have upholded a peaceful democratic rule for several years.

“The subject of this edition has been one of the most popular topics suggested by various listeners of the debate, and questions of this kind have come up time and again,” stated Alex Jakana. He continued to say that Zambia has an image of a working peaceful democracy that has appeared to be under threat lately thus the theme.

The three panellists being the Republican Vice President Dr Scott, Sipho Malunga, the Executive Director of the Open Society Initiative Southern Africa (OSISA) and Linda Kasonde a lawyer under the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) were put in a tight spot as many questions, contributions and criticisms arose from the audience ranging from poverty, mining and the main issue of democracy being dead in the country since the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) government took over leadership in 2011.

Many in the audience felt that democracy has lost its true meaning from Abraham Lincoln the first President of the United States of America’s definition. Among the many who criticised the presence of democracy being present in the country was Elijah Ngwale, a disability rights activist.

The opposition also strongly attested to the fact that democracy has lost its meaning in Zambia. “Of course the whole nation at large rejoiced when the Patriotic Front government was declared the wining party, but in the two years of governance, this government has failed to deliver to the people rule by the people, for the people with the people. It seems everyone is hungry for power and being in government,” one of the opposition officials stated. The issue of land wrangles by the ruling governments’ cadres in the country was also raised and the president’s silence was questioned. It was also stated to say that because of these land situation children’s futures were being destroyed as they are the ones who suffer most. “Are cadres now going to rule our country? What next? Have we failed as a democratic nation?” they asked.

In an interview with BBC presenter and moderator of the debate, Don Damon after the debate, he highlighted the importance of hosting the debate for the children.   “I have covered some rather tragic stories involving children in many countries were democracy isn’t the rule of the day, but military rule mostly. Many children are affected by military and dictator forms of governments hence rebels arise and involve children to take part in the fights against the government and many children die,” Damon said.

He also said in these countries poverty is the order of the day and malnutrition and hunger attack the children mostly. “Children need to understand what democracy is all about. It is important for children to grow up in a democratic kind of government and not only that, children need to participate in democracy as this is their right, and in decision making they should also be involved. They should be given a voice in a democratic country to speak out in the many issues that affect them,” he stated.

The panellists also believe that democracy can make it for the country as one party rule, military and traditional rule failed to deliver a sustainable government for any country. Dr. Scott defended the PF saying the democracy of 1991 from the one-part era to the current government, is incomparable as the former governments were much worse-off in terms of infrastructure, education, economic development and employment. But if Zambia wasn’t a democratic nation there wouldn’t be fair elections or  no elections at all, but because we are a democracy we still have peace and still called a developing country”  Dr Scott said.

‘Not much at the debate was covered for the children’ hence Damon hoped that next time the BBC hosts a debate, children will be involved. The Children’s News Agency with support from European Union.