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Zimbabwe: Nkomo Ducks TV Debate With Makoni
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Financial Gazette (Harare)
27 March 2008
Posted to the web 27 March 2008
Staff Reporter
Harare
AT last, some humour in a serious campaign. John Nkomo, the ZANU-PF chairman, is said to have chickened out of a television debate with Simba Makoni yesterday, according to senior staff at the ZBC.
The state broadcaster had invited Nkomo to a 10:30am recording as part of its election coverage. But it appears they neglected to tell him he was to face a debating opponent.
Upon entering a studio, Nkomo was astounded to see Makoni. He complained that he had not been informed about Makoni's participation and immediately walked out.
ZBC cancelled the debate, but later interviewed Makoni.
The independent presidential candidate had waited for Nkomo to arrive for more than two hours, and was forced to cancel a rally at Stodart Hall in Mbare due to the delay.
Nkomo was not immediately available for comment, but a spokesman for Makoni confirmed the incident yesterday.
Last week, ZBC aired debates pitting the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC)'s Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga and Tapiwa Mashakada against Chris Mutsvangwa, ZANU-PF's "research analyst" and its Norton parliamentary candidate.
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The debates have sometimes resulted in comical exchanges between ZBC's interviewers, especially Happison Muchechetere, and guests.
During a debate last week, MDC secretary general Tendai Biti responded to Muchechetere's barbs by asking him: "Can't you smell the change? We are going to kick butt come March 29."
Meanwhile, the Makoni campaign has protested that the ZBC has refused to flight television adverts it had fully paid for.
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