Four Presidential runningmates debate hosted by privately owned Zodiak Broadcasting Station (ZBS) ended prematurely on Thursday night due to power cut that hit Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC).

The programme indicated that the debate will have five panelists on the podium but ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) runningmate Everton Chimulirenji ducked the debate at the 11th hour reducing the number of panelist to four.

When the host of the debate Frank Joab Chakhaza announced that Chimulirenji is nowhere to be seen despite confirming his participation the people who attended the debate jumped into the dancing floor chanting “Chimulirenji!! Wathawa…. Chimulirenji wathawa…!”

Despite all this the debate which centred on mining, education and agriculture progressed well till toward the end where the debate was disrupted by a power cut.

Power went off at a time when runningmates were giving credit to each other.

The development did not please the people who filled BICC auditorium and some were head accusing the current regime under President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika of performing miserably interms power generation.

Meanwhile the second Presidential runningmates debate is scheduled for next week in the commercial capital Blantyre.