Will voter education quell doubts?

Ifind it interesting that many citizens don’t know which political party to vote for in the forthcoming elections. There are more than 350 parties. Voters should be spoiled for choice. Yet the opposite is true.

The other day I went to a Shoprite in Kagiso and while in the queue, the teller was having a discussion with some customers on politics. They were also complaining about load shedding and poor service delivery.

The teller told one customer that she’s going to vote for the Democratic Alliance. I politely asked why. “Because I’m tired of the corrupt and inept ANC,” she responded.

The same day, an old friend said he was going to vote for uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party.

“Because Jacob Zuma is the only one who can deliver. That man has done a lot for this country. Pity he was suppressed by the ANC. When we vote for him this time around, he will take this country forward,” he said.

I take it he is not aware that Zuma, pictured, won’t be on the ballot paper.

I was not sold and interrogated him further, which made his blood boil. I pointed out that MK party has existed for less than six months and has no elected leadership or policies. So, I wanted to know why he is going to vote for it. He replied with a lot of balderdash.

I then remembered that he is Zulu. No offence intended. MK party has the support of Zulus. They are Zuma’s die-hard supporters. This shows that Msholozi still has influence.

I have picked up that many voters are going to vote on the basis of emotions in the next elections. They are not looking at party policies, records and promises. The more things change, the more they remain the same.

I have also encountered many who don’t know which party to vote for. But they assured me they are going to vote.

Are political parties doing enough to woo voters? Methinks not, except for a few. But after 29 years of democracy, voters should know what to look for in a party before deciding to vote for it. Maybe we need voter education.

Thabile Mange