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ZIMBABWE is officially in election season as the country prepares to go to the polls to elect the President, legislators and councillors after President Mnangagwa proclaimed August 23 as the day the plebiscite will be held.
Political parties and independent candidates who will contest in the polls have started campaigning and canvassing for the citizens’ votes by way of unveiling their manifestos to the electorate.
This is the time to sell their political ideas to the public and reiterate what they stand for to earn the coveted votes.
Basically, elections are a part of sovereign countries’ democratic processes that give the electorate a chance to choose candidates or leaders whom they feel will represent and advance their interests well.
As such, the candidates derive their mandates from people who vote them into office. In other words, running for political office means the candidates pledge to serve the electorate and deliver on the people’s expectations.
Unsurprisingly, during the campaign trail the candidates make lots of promises to profile themselves as the best option.
If a person is registered to vote, it is their constitutional right to vote for a candidate of their choice freely.
As Zimbabwe heads to the polls, loads of messages have been put out encouraging peace before, during and after the elections.
We should all know that elections are an important mechanism in democratic and peace processes.
Their purpose is to provide citizens with an opportunity to choose their political leaders and allocate power peacefully.
However, tensions and high-stake competition can result in violence, which should be avoided at all costs.
The other word that has to be driven home is for the electorate to make wise decisions at the ballot.
Voting for a particular candidate means one would have entrusted them with contributing to shaping their future.
This is a decision one would have to live with for the next five years until the next election.
That said, as the political parties and candidates get down on the campaign trail and bombard the electorate with promises of what they are going to provide, voters must not lose sight of what issues they want addressed and delivered.
This effectively makes some parties and candidates easy choices to vote for.
Generations have fought, marched, and protested for this basic right to vote.
Through their ballots, voters gain representation in policies and issues.
Citizens can choose politicians who champion the ideas they care about.
Some people feel that their own, singular vote could not make a difference in an election.
While a single vote may not decide an entire election, collectively these votes can have a major impact.
Elections are decided by the people who go out and vote.
If you don’t vote, someone else will make the decision for you.
If you don’t vote you get stuck with other people’s choices – and you can’t even complain about it because you allowed that to happen.
By participating in the electoral process as a voter, you get a say in how things are done for the next five years.
Your power is in your vote and peace should continue prevailing.
Online Reporter