Namibia must introduce a presidential candidate debate

In the western world, democracy has taken the front seat, while in Africa, competitive authoritarian, competitive autocracy and full autocracy regimes have risen to prominence. Competitive authoritarian regimes are those in which democratic institutions exist on paper, but are subverted by incumbents. Regular elections take place in these regimes, and the opposition theoretically has a chance of winning.

Namibia, although a democratic country, is dominated by the Swapo Party. While opposition parties are allowed, they are not widely considered to have a real chance of gaining power. However, Article 1 (1) of the Namibian Constitution stipulates that the country is established as a sovereignty, secular, democratic and unitary state, founded on the principles of democracy, the rule of law and justice for all.

This provision alone gives a concrete stance on Namibia's democratic will. Though black governance emanates from full autocracy through chieftainship and kings ruling before independence, Swapo strengthened its concrete stance on democracy with the 2004 extraordinary congress, bringing the party to good book as a truly revolutionary movement that is altering from a liberation movement into a democratic political party to compete in a democratic world.

Presidential debate history

In the 1960 election, the United States of America hosted its first-ever presidential debate between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon.

During presidential election campaigns in that country, it has become customary for the candidates to engage in a debate. The topics discussed in the debate are often controversial issues of the time and arguably elections have been nearly decided by these debates. Namibia is a democratic country and I am of the opinion that we must introduce a presidential debate.

Though it is not constitutionally mandated, it can be considered an intrinsic part of the election process.

Importance of debate

In order to uphold its democratic values, Namibia should introduce a presidential debate as part of the election process. The United States has long held presidential debates, and they have proven to be influential in shaping public opinion and potentially deciding elections. The debate topics often revolve around controversial issues of the time.

In Namibia, a presidential debate would not only encourage the participation of young voters, but would also allow them to hear directly from the candidates about their plans to address pressing issues such as unemployment, economic emancipation, corruption, hunger, poverty, inequality, healthcare and infrastructure development. Additionally, debates can provide voters with a better understanding of the candidates, particularly if they have less information about them.

By changing voters' perceptions and focusing on leadership qualities, debates can help voters make informed decisions.

A well-functioning democratic structure and strong political governance are crucial for a country's economy. However, in younger democratic countries like Namibia, the lack of information about elections can weaken the accountability of elected politicians and hinder decision-making. Presidential debates can significantly improve voters' knowledge and increase democratic participation, ultimately strengthening the democratic system.

In conclusion, Namibia should introduce a presidential debate as part of its election process to uphold its democratic values, engage young voters, address pressing issues and provide voters with essential information to make informed decisions. By doing so, Namibia can strengthen its democracy and promote a more accountable and effective political system.

**Stephanus Pombili is a Namibian writer, scholar, ambassador and entrepreneur. He is also a researcher at the Africa Institute of Public Administration and the country director of Transformation Leadership for Africa. He advocates for justice democracy and youth empowerment. The opinions shared here are his own.