The Mayoral Debate is the best opportunity to speak to Lusaka residents, says Elias Mpondela

IT IS our responsibility as leaders to listen and talk to the people we want to represent, says Elias Mpondela.

Mr. Mpondela and seven others contesting for the Lusaka executive mayor position have confirmed their participation in the debate organized by concerned Lusaka residents next week.

In an interview, Mr. Mpondela said the debate was an opportunity for them to speak to Lusaka residents who will be employing them on August 11, 2016.

“We just have to participate in the debate that has been organized by the people of Lusaka. After all, we stand for them and we need to speak to them,” Mr. Mpondela said.

“We can’t say no to them because refusing to interact with the people would mean bad leadership. I am ready to participate in the debate. I will be available.”

And former first lady Maureen Mwanawasa who is standing on the UPND ticket also confirmed her participation in the debate.

“I will definitely be there. There are a lot of debates that have been organized and I will be there,” said Mrs. Mwanawasa.
Others who confirmed their participation are FDD’s Sirre Muntanga, Fisho Mwale, Kauta Mwale, an independent candidate, UNIP’s Reverend Alfred Banda, PF’s Wilson Kalumba and another independent candidate Misake.

One of the organizers of the debate Pamela Mwanza early this week called on the people contesting on the Lusaka mayoral position to participate in a debate where they will tell Lusaka residents what they intend to do for them once elected.

“The council has been dead for so many years and yet for so many years we have been having mayor after mayor.
I suggested to a number of friends of mine that we should organize a debate for Lusaka mayoral aspiring candidates. In the past, these guys have just come on the scene, they have gone ahead, applied and then you have a mayor you have never seen before…you have never known before…you don’t even know what they intend to do for your city but they are mayors of Lusaka,” Mwanza said.

“All we see are people clad in that mayoral regalia representing you but you don’t know him and he doesn’t know you and probably you never get to know him. You don’t even know what he does but he is there as your mayor.”