Political Campaigns go Cyber

Anne Mugisha is a Ugandan politician resident in the United States. She recently wrote in her regular Observer column of how people had been “surprised” that her Facebook account had pictures and videos of an event that had taken place at her former school some hours earlier. She downloaded them from an email sent by a friend who attended with a camera and cell phone.Anne writes that she has realised that technology can be used to run a very successful political campaign and urged fellow opposition politicians to use it to their advantage.

South Africa’s ruling African National Congress also claims that their victory in the recent general elections was largely due to the use of technology to pass on their agenda. President-elect Jacob Zuma’s spokesperson Zizi Kodwa is reported to have told itnewsafrica….

Apart from using the N95 for communication, he (Mr. Zuma) also used a laptop connected to a 3G whenever he traveled throughout the country during the election campaigns. The president had a hectic time schedules as he responded to various letters written to him by electorate. President Zuma also communicated with other international leaders, fellow African presidents using the gadget…

I have always believed in the impact technology can have on an election campaign since Barrack Obama’s successful internet based campaign. Mr Obama was able to “personally” reach out to almost every voter using Facebook (and other social networking sites), You Tube, his Blackberry and other gadgets.

We are used to the system of politicians having to physically traverse entire constituencies as the only way of getting their message across. But with new developments, the campaign trail may switch to your living room. Mobile phones can be used because the biggest percentage of people can now afford to own one. Good luck Anne.