Last week this newspaper revealed a list of 35 questions that the Scorpions have put to Deputy President Jacob Zuma. The decision to do so was not taken lightly.

Two important decisions had to be made. The first was whether or not the questions were genuine. We concluded, as has been borne out this week, that they were.

The second was whether it was in the public interest that the list of questions be revealed.

Again, we were in no doubt - the public deserved to know what a man in such high public office was being asked by the country's foremost investigating arm.

Those who supplied us with the list of the questions may or may not have ulterior motives, but this can never be a decisive consideration.

A newspaper must remain true to its readers an not the whisperings of conspiracy theorists who, in any event, harbour their own hidden agendas.

The publication of the truth about a matter affecting the highest offices in the land ought never to compromise the public interest.

On the contrary, our country will grow stronger the more robust our public disclosure becomes.

What is of concern, however, is how those at the centre of these allegations have attempted to use public platforms to evade the central issues raised by the questions to Zuma.

They have tried their level best to shift attention away from the list of questions.

They have tried to get the debate shifted to the question of who leaked the list. Some have gone so far as to cry out in righteous indignation that this newspaper ought not to have published the list for ethical reasons.

Even usually more sober heads, such as Kgalema Motlanthe, the ANC secretary-general, have been moved to make unwise and interfering pronouncements, which appear to be aimed at protecting a senior party official.

All of this spin-doctoring is, of course, doomed to failure. The public is never so easily mislead.

The questions will not go away until Zuma has furnished the nation with answers.

If he chooses not do so and opts to wage a political battle, he may have success in the short term. But he must know that his political reputation will be irreparably damaged by obfuscation. He ought to be above that.

After the dramatic twists and turns of this week's public debate, sanity must return, and the red herrings must be thrown out.

The Scorpions must get back to the business of conducting their investigation in a dispassionate manner, unintimidated by the threats of those in high office.

And Zuma must start to provide the Scorpions, and the nation, with substantive answers.

This newspaper remained convinced that it is only with a full public airing of allegations against those in high office that the nation will be equipped to accept the outcome of this enquiry.

We are a young democracy that is building a culture of accountability. This is a test for emerging culture that we cannot afford to fail.

With acknowledgement to the Sunday Times.