It is less than two weeks before the local government elections. Political Parties and independent candidates are trying to convince people to vote for them. There is also talk that this could be the last stand-alone local government elections as there could be an overhaul of the election system and timetable by 2014. In future, we could be going to the polls to vote for the President, Premier and the Mayor on the same date.
What is bothering me is the stance that some people have taken against voting. These are people who feel that they have been disappointed after lofty promises were made when parties courted their votes and these were not fulfilled. Others argue that they are being used as voting fodder by politicians who do not have the community’s interests at heart. This feeling is summed up by the New Frank Talk editor Andile Mngxitama in one weekly newspaper as he laments the loss of democracy’s meaning because the people are called upon every five years, to “choose which set of rulers will have an opportunity to live lavishly without any sense of responsibility for those they supposedly serve”. He argues that the best would be for the poor not vote but does not provide alternatives.
I must state that these concerns are not, in many cases, unjustified.. We have seen that some Councillors view being elected as means to self-enrichment. This could explain the fights around who should represent political parties as ward candidates that has been more intense in these particular elections. We also hear of candidates who are already pronouncing that when they take over councils after 18 May certain managers will be fired. No apparent reason is offered for this except a glaring jealousy that accompanies the psyche of “our turn to eat”. All these are bad and have the effect of discouraging the faint hearted.
I firmly believe that this is no time to loose our heart and our resolve as we have to confront this challenge head-on. I am comforted by a scripture in Chapter four of the Book of Acts in the Holly Bible. It records that the Apostles responded to a difficult situation that was threatening their lives and Ministry by praying to God to take note of the situation and yet grant them strength to continue what they were doing with boldness. It would be foolish to pretend as if there are no problems with the way many municipalities are run. There is also the danger of those who promise to do better if elected when they only want to be the new set of rulers that will “live lavishly without any sense of responsibility” for the community. We should note these and still continue with boldness in our endeavour to change the situation. The advantage of local government elections is that it is people in our wards that we will be voting for. We know their characters regardless of the colours they will be wearing.
People should note that bad candidates can get in even if they are elected by a tiny minority. This gives the voters the responsibility to counter the elections of such elements. These elections provide a wide choice of candidates to vote for in our different wards. Instead of cowering into our different corners let us go to the polls with the conviction that the struggle continues. It must be the struggle against poor service delivery, greed, irresponsiveness and many other actions that show the middle finger to the public. The electorate must understand that they are now in a position of strength and they can determine the attitude of local councillors for the next five years. We as a people do not have many alternatives to voting. Those who urge others not to vote do not provide workable alternatives. We sacrificed a lot to gain this right and we should not take it for granted. We should not allow those who make false promises and those who take us for granted to indirectly deprive us, the people, of our right to vote. It is our right to put them where they belong, in the dustbin of history. Vote on 18 May 2011.
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