Candidates should not take voters for a ride.

By Editor

Editorial Cartoon.

Listening to the ongoing election campaigns sometimes one may conclude that some candidates think their voters are fools.

 

We deliberately use this term ‘fool’ simply because according to a simple definition, a fool is a person who acts unwisely or imprudently; a silly person. 

 

And, according to Free Dictionary, a fool is an attribute given to a person who is deficient in judgment, sense, or understanding, or someone who acts unwisely on a given occasion. 

 

As it is a worldwide practice during elections, candidates seeking elective leadership posts are required to tell the public what they intend to do in case they get elected. It is during election campaigns when candidates who seek elective leadership positions tell the public about their mission and vision and how to go about the two aspects.

 

Practically the election manifestos are the documents that clearly give a sense of direction candidates would like to take the nation. The same is currently being witnessed since election campaigns kicked off late last month. 

 

However, as each candidate canvases for votes some presidential aspirants’ promises are indeed leaving those with sound minds with lots of questions.  We now fail to understand whether some of them have a real passion for leading this nation or they just stormed the presidential race to bluff the public.

 

It was on Thursday evening when one of the presidential candidates was heard telling voters in Tabora Region that in case he was elected the fifth head of state, he would supply water by aircraft, meaning that planes would be ferrying water from  sources before supplying them to the needy in Tabora. 

 

This is taking absurdity to the extreme. Was he trying to make a joke of the century? Otherwise, this could be taken as an insult to the intelligence of the people he was addressing. 

 

We fully understand that the constitution of this blessed nation bestows upon every citizen the right to vote and to be voted for or against provided they meet the laid down qualification, but this right should not be abused by issuing ridiculous promises.

 

The candidate in question would have talked sense if at least  he had hinted on the possibility of extending water infrastructure that now supply water in some areas of Shinyanga after tapping it from Lake  Victoria.

 

We all know that Lake Victoria water project an ideal solution for water problems facing residents of Shinyanga, Tabora and even most likely Singida and Dodoma Regions, provided there was political will. 

 

If that option is too costly the candidate could have spoken about the possibility of digging wells, not supplying water by aircraft. Well, in these campaigns we will hear a lot. Maybe this is now becoming our culture because we were once told that Kigoma would be turned into another Dubai!Yet no one questioned how such a dream would be realised.

 

Candidates should not think that voters have no ability to analyse issues or weigh matters. October 25 is just 36 days away before each candidate reaps what he/she sowed.