RALLIES HEAD TO HEAD WITH ONLINE MEDIA

Political Campaigns have reached a climax as the 11^th August draws closer for Citizens to choose their preferred President, Member of Parliament, Councillor as well as Mayors and Council Chairpersons, new additions to the electoral process.

From my observations, a number of things have not changed in terms of strategy; it is a situation of using the same trick to trap an elusive prey, which in this case, is a voter.

 

Modern day Politicians still rely on public gatherings as the one of the many methods to disseminate their campaign messages to both loyal and undecided people.

Political parties have trekked and they are still coming to you and me for that single vote that is so crucial in what analysts predict to be highly contested general elections.

The latest inclusion to the elections in the Modern World is social media such as Facebook, twitter, and many other platforms available.

Having rallies and using social media platforms have own advantages and disadvantages depending on how it is used by the communicator.

Modern day Politicians still rely on public gatherings as the one of the many methods to disseminate their campaign messages to both loyal and undecided people.

Door to door approach is not widely used by politicians for one obvious reason of not reaching masses at one given time especially in vast wards or constituencies, but it is a powerful mode of communication.

This mode offers a Candidate a one on one interaction with a voter; it enables a Candidate to have first hand information regarding a particular problem facing a given community.

A Candidate who direct manages a social media account can respond to queries on the timeline or those forwarded in the inbox and it excites followers.

Big Rallies or Mammoth gatherings like others like to describe them are slowly becoming a keeping up appearance events or show off function to claim what I call “artificial popularity”.

Artificial popularity because it does not mean all is well and those watching or listening to your message are behind a certain Candidate 100 percent, it is unpredictable even if numbers don’t lie.

The sad part about rallies is that Politicians use them to send unproductive messages that just excite people instead of advancing real issues.

Remember in 2015, the Electoral Commission of Zambia recorded over 16 thousand rejected ballot papers that could have been avoided if politicians explained to a voter how to best to cast a ballot paper.

 This also applies to social media; you will find that most of the messages are either one sided or a total fabrication of a true statement.

People managing online sites have a tough time to strike a balance of sending well balanced stories that can help Citizens make informed decisions and to please their pay masters.

Over a thousand people may like an online posting or a particular account but there is no guarantee to verify that once a message everybody seeing it agrees you.

Come 2021 Social media will be at the centre of Zambia’s political spotlight in that it does not observe the Constitutional requirements of the now condemned Public order act.

Social media penetrates even the stronghold of rivalry political parties, what is needed is to ensure that internet connection is widened and reduce the charges by service providers.

Social media has caused problems the latest was the failed coup plot in Turkey where a whatsapp group called the “Safety of the nation” was used by thousands of Turks to rise against an elected government.

Politicians like and hate social message just like they do not appreciate their opponents holding big rallies in areas perceived to be their strongholds.

People attend rallies for different reasons worse still not all those at the rally are eligible voters, they may also not be loyal supporters of a particular party.

Being a Public speaking Coach and a debater of more than 10 years experience, it is important and very difficult at the same time to keep the audience alive or connected to your message between 2 to 4 hours.

During such rallies, very few politicians educate the voter on the correct way of casting a ballot paper.

One thing is certain, social media is very power and it influences masses at a click of button.

Those in the working class do not have the luxury of attending a rally being addressed by politicians while those out of employment flood political gatherings in compounds and many other places.

I may be right or wrong to suggest that rallies are for the unemployed who are the majority while as social media is for the minority in society.

Look out for the government of national unit in the next publication.

Thank you