Guiding the voters

by Editor · December 3, 2008

As South Africa�s political parties are launching their election campaigns�and in at least one instance, themselves � the pastoral letter issued by our bishops on the electorate�s rights and obligations is timely.

The bishops� call for tolerance among the competing political parties and their supporters merits sustained amplification. �Politically motivated hate speech, intimidation, violence and disruption kill democracy,� the bishops said in their pastoral statement. �People have different views and so they support different parties. For a democracy to live, we must tolerate the different views of others.�

Their appeal is sensible, but in politics common sense often is the first casualty in the pursuit of power and influence. This is not a specifically South African malaise. Indeed, the African National Congress� ascendancy in our first three democratic elections has prevented such hateful campaigning as was seen this year even in the United States, a country which styles itself with some undue embellishment as the world�s greatest democracy.

South Africa�s elections next year are, however, different. For the first time since 1994, the ANC feels the pressure from an opposition party which it evidently takes seriously, all denials to the contrary notwithstanding. That party, not even formally launched yet, may well pose an electoral threat, if not in 2009, then conceivably five years later.

The ANC and the Congress of the People (Cope) are going to compete for the same constituency of voters, both claiming to represent the genuine legacy of liberation movement icons such as Nelson Mandela, Oliver Tambo and Walter Sisulu. As so often when siblings take opposing positions, the animosity is intense. The insults already levelled at one another � using the incendiary terminology of snakes, dogs and rapists � are deleterious to the notion of principled campaigning. One must hope that the voices of reason in both parties will effect restraint among their more ebullient officials and supporters. Verbal slander can quickly turn to physical violence (and there have been reports of isolated incidents of clashes). This must be avoided.

The bishops� statement underscores the need for voter education on at least three counts. Firstly, voters must be reassured that their vote is unconditionally free and secret. This message must be communicated vigorously especially in areas with a history of political intimidation. Secondly, voters must cast an informed ballot. They have an obligation to ensure that the policies of the party they vote for express, as they see it, their own aspirations and those of the whole country. Voting for or against a party solely because of its logo, history or tradition is irresponsible. Thirdly, voters must be urged and, if necessary, guided to obtain information about the policies and objectives of the parties standing for election. This means that the electorate, represented by civil society, must not tolerate the disruption or manipulation of the fair flow of information. Particular vigilance is essential in the political coverage of state-owned organs of communication.

The bishops of Southern Africa have a proud history of removing themselves from partisan politics, unlike some of their counterparts in the United States, whose flagrant bias has at times verged on the shameful. While it is perfectly admissible to comment on specific policies or conduct of a political party, our bishops do not invoke their authority in instructing the faithful on their specific voting choices.

There is much wisdom in that. It enables the Church to guide the Catholic voters� collective conscience, empowering them to arrive at an informed decision when they enter the polls to elect a new political leadership for, as the bishops stress, the common good.