Are there really any reasons why the poor should vote?
Andile Mngxitama, editor of New Frank Talk wrote a telling piece in the Mail and Guardian [25 April-May 5, 2011] titled “SA’s poor must shun the polls.” Its basic thesis is that as South Africans got to the polls, “there is no benefit in voting for a hollow democracy that serves only the rich and elite.” His beef is that the ANC has little to claim for the people’s vote, and so does the main opposition the Democratic Alliance as the poor are still wallowing in poverty, years after the coming of democracy despite all the promises by the ANC.
It read like an analysis of the Zimbabwe situation. When analysts here call for the boycott of elections – usually because of political violence – Zanu PF is always quick to spring and label such calls as emanating from enemies of the revolution etc. It is interesting that as we will sooner or later have our own election, Zimbabweans are obviously asking themselves if it is worth the effort this time because of all the undelivered promises since 1980.
Yet others have said rather with an idealism that Mngxitama will do doubt dismiss that bad governments are chosen by people who do not vote. Still our history has shown since 1980 that even if people come out in their numbers to vote, they still manage to vote in a very bad government! The logical thing then would be not to waste one’s vote and simply stay away!
In our past elections voter apathy has ruled the day without any overt calls from any civic groups to stay away from the polls yet the people are surely tired of voting for politicians only that they continue looting national resources. It is interesting in itself that calls to boycott elections have been directed at parties contesting against Zanu PF not the voters themselves who no doubt hold the leverages of power in any functioning democracy.
The other week Minister Obert Mpofu came to the rescue of debt-ridden Highlanders football club in Bulawayo, and the obvious question that emerged from the average dude – excluding the beneficiaries of the largess no doubt [something about looking the gift horse in the mouth] – was that where does a minister get that kind of money when these government officials have always complained to Biti that they are getting a pittance in the name of salaries. Even with the increment of ministers’ salaries a couple of months ago, would anyone be able to afford such magnanimity?
It is pedestrian to say it is abnormal for an African government minister to be poor, yet it has to be asked for how long will the people of Zimbabwe be used as doormats and blindly continue voting for men and women who have no regard for African laws of modesty but flaunt their obscene wealth, sagging bellies, ready-to-explode cheeks, right in front of impoverished voters.
The tragedy of it all perhaps is that we still find jobless energetic men and women in our midst doing the rounds coercing residents to join long queues under the cruel African sun to vote, claiming that those who are exercising their right not to vote are doing so at the bidding of forces hostile to the land reform project!