Downing Street Says » Zimbabwe Debate

» Thursday, March 15, 2007

Zimbabwe Debate

Asked if he saw a case for Foreign Office Ministers swiftly altering their diaries to enable a Commons debate on the situation, Mr Straw said he agreed that there should be a debate. Both Margaret Beckett and Ian McCartney wanted it, but it was difficult to change engagements already in Ministers’ diaries. The Leader said it was essential now that the regional partners of Zimbabwe, particularly South Africa, recognised the gravity of the situation and acted accordingly. Asked what they should do, he said that they should take steps to further isolate and put pressure on the Mugabe regime. It was now beyond the fraternal feelings of former freedom fighters.

He noted that South African had to cope with a very large number of refuges from Zimbabwe and economic disruption on its northern border.

1 Comment »

It is only prudent for someone in authority and I think the Prime Minister is the appropriate person to set up an formal framework defining how the participants debating the crisis in Zimbabwe should interact.

Debate is a broder form of argument than logical argument (much of what is there at the moment). Debate includes persuasion which appeals to the emotions and motivates enabling people to discuss and decide on differences.

I believe the quality and depth of such a debate improves the knowledge and skill of its participants.

Also with such a framework the out come of the debate may be decided by audience vote or simple judgement or even both.
Comment by Victor Simbule — 6 Jun 2007 on 12:53 pm | Link

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