Are the political and government leaders fully equipped with skills to address the public and respond to the medias questions?

When you are a government leader who is always in the public eye you are expected to address the media and  the people you are serving with respect.

 



President of the Republic if South Africa Mr Jacob Zuma during his speech at the Parliament.



DA's Parliamentary Leader Madam Lindiwe Mazibuko

I was listening President of South Africa Mr Jacob Zuma responding to the questions of the members of the parliament. What got me astonished was when Mr J.Zuma called the DA Parliamentary leader a “Girl” instead of honourable member of the parliament. I assume the question that Madam Lindiwe Mazibuko posed to the president of the country provoked him, but that does not mean the president should forget to follow the parliamentary policy when responding to the members.

The embarrassing habit that most of the politicians like Mr Julius Malema tend to do when talking to the media is to respond in a disrespectfully  aggressive manner, forgetting that what ever they say will be published and broadcasted to the citizens of the country.

From the communication perspective public and government leaders ought to be careful with what they say to the media because at the end the that message will be out to the public trough media then the message creates a certain perception about that particular leader. On the other hand prominent political leader are also perceived/taken as role models by the public particularly the youth therefore it brings a challenge to such leaders to be very cautious when they deliver speeches and respond to the media's questions . In addition it's also  an inevitable challenge for communication practitioners of our leaders to give  offer an advance media training to them.

 RELEASE YOUR VOICE

L.Buthelezi