OPINION: Voting with your emotions? It may not be the best move

• Thabile Mange writes:

I find it interesting that many citizens don’t know which political party to vote for in the forthcoming elections. Yet there are more than 300 parties in this country. Voters should be spoiled for choice. The opposite is true.

The other day I went to the local retail store. While in the queue to pay, the teller was holding an interesting political discussion with some customers. They were also complaining about load-shedding and poor service delivery.

When I was next to pay, the teller told the other customer that she was going to vote for the DA. I politely asked why. “Because I’m tired of the corrupt and inept ANC,” she responded with her eyes wide open. I assured her that I was not trying to dissuade her but wanted to understand why she’d decided to vote for the official opposition.

The same day, an old friend said to me he was going to vote for the MK Party. I asked why. “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, he will take this country forward,” he said. I take it he is not aware that Msholozi won’t be on the ballot paper.

I was not sold and further interrogated him, which boiled his temperature, and yet he is usually polite and sober. I pointed out to him that the MK Party has less than six months in existence, and has no elected leadership and policies. So, I wanted to know why he was going to vote for it.

He said a whole lot of nonsense. I then remembered that he was Zulu. No offence intended. The truth is that the MK Party enjoys the support of Zulus. They are Zuma’s die-hard supporters. This shows that Msholozi still has influence.

What I have picked up is that many voters will vote based on emotions and sentiment in the next elections. They are not looking at policies, records and party promises. The more things change, the more they remain the same.

In addition, I have also encountered many who don’t know which political party to vote for. But they have assured me that they are going to vote. Probably they will decide (if they ever decide) on the voting day who to vote for, but this is not ideal.

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

What is your opinion about the matter and who will you vote for and why? Email us at krugersdorpnews@caxton.co.za.