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from the ruling party. How then can this be done?
Unfortunately, it is not just wishful thinking, but that the electorate has to be wooed by all the parties.

What is of concern is whether or not promises, at this stage we are in our independence, can still be of any value as a starting point in this campaign of the hearts and minds of the voters.
The one aspect that politicians fail to understand is whether the voters believe them or not or whether there is something that the voters see beyond the politicians.
Many watchers of elections have written that the voter does not believe the promises dished out by politicians but that they look to the future of their well-being either for their children or their grandchildren.

The major question is whether or not their children and grandchildren will be guaranteed a better life than they themselves have been through?
Whether one is a war veteran, peasant farmer, commercial farmer, civil servant, maid, gardener etc, the overriding factor that connects them together is the future of their children.
In order to work towards the future of their children, the adults need a better health service, which they pay for through taxes. They need better roads to enable them to carryout their daily duties.

They need electricity and water and the infrastructure must be well-managed.
The feel good effect is what will determine the way the voter will cast his ballot.
In many countries the voters have not been convinced by any one party going it alone to manage the affairs of the country but instead have made it possible for political parties to come together and put their heads together to solve, especially the economic crisis which led to meltdowns in every country in the world.

In some countries, they have witnessed uprisings from the people denied the right to vote and to participate in the affairs of their countries.
Here in Zimbabwe, we are fortunate that we have earned the right to vote the hard way but, at least, we have elections from the district, town, city, and national levels.
All the parties that have participated in the elections have had chance to put their programmes to work after winning the right to run district, town and city council elections.
Armed with all this dispensation, what is then that the voter wants?

It is the feeling good factor. It is the future of their children and grandchildren.
But these futures must be worked for. That is the spoke that is missing on the wheel.
Everything has to be worked for. There is no way a politician can substitute that. If the people do not want to work for the future of their children and grandchildren, then the politician is not to blame.

Everyday many people see how destructive others can be either by deliberately destroying the infrastructure for personal gain.
Take the stealing of copper cables, where there are no longer any electric trains, the stealing of telephone cables leaving communities and businesses without any means of communication, the corrupt nature of officials responsible for looking after revenues collected from hard working members of society.

What is commendable, is the role that individuals have taken to maintain the infrastructures whether they be schools etc.
One wonders at the enterprenuership of the people to start their own businesses all in the hope of guaranteeing the future of children in our nation.
What then can a politician come up with?

It is to build a nation and guarantee a peaceful environment in which individuals are protected to pursue their lives and put their talents to work for the sustenance of society.
If these individuals are denied the freedom to pursue their ambitions or acquired talents, agitation will be the order of the day.
The state has a responsibility to ask the citizens to pay for the maintenance of this freedom of thought, of striving for a better life in the legal framework guaranteed by the constitution and safeguarded by the rule of law and state institutions.

Yes, elections are very important, not onlyto elect our leaders but as a way to engage with politicians on what society wants not to be told like school children what is good for us.
We are adults who can think for ourselves.

The people expect politicians to listen to the voters for a change.
It is how together we can ensure the destiny of our country. But nobody should forget our history and the past because it is our heritage as well as for our children and those still to be born.
Is it possible to sell our inheritance?

This is what elections everywhere are about.
But incompetence in safeguarding this inheritance cannot be tolerated.
Incompetence in safeguarding the future of our children and grandchildren cannot be accepted.

Can the politician guarantee all what this country and its citizens have always reguarded as their inheritance?
It is quite a tall order. Corruption will destroy everything this country has strived to achieve.
Incompetence will be the disease that will have to be cured. Lack of foresight will spell disaster for the nation. Individuals have the right to build the country through the ballot box or destroy it through the ballot box.
The onus is on the individual in any elections.