The funnies of the campaign trail
Many voters avidly look forward to election year, for the simple reason that they have managed to get the manipulation of candidates down to an art. They have managed to actually get the most out of the election contenders and improved their own personal situations. This year’s double election season is no less, and many are spreading their nets to see what they could catch from the candidates.
Some parties are always playing catch up when it comes to campaigning on the ground in the districts. Faced with the echoes of President Faure’s accusation that the LDS led 15/10 National Assembly has neglected the districts these past four years, that party has been going all out to woo voters to turn a blind eye to their neglect since 2016 and give its candidates another mandate. To achieve this, they are willing to go the distance and back!
Many voters have been smiling if not laughing behind the backs of the large LDS groups of activists from all over Mahe who flock to one chosen district every weekend. The residents have taken to telling the tales of the LDS’ visits to their homes. Some very proud candidates have actually posted on social media, how they rolled up their sleeves and jumped into the foray of household chores as they visited their constituencies.
As a result some families have seen their lofty and somewhat aloof former MNA beg for the opportunity to help them cook a tasty curry by offering to grate the coconuts. Elsewhere the vice presidential hopeful took to the grass cutting machine and started trimming the lawns for his constituents. Many such actions have been repeated across the country, from those activists who help out in the kitchen to those who actually come as a team and clean the house of a prospective voter! All this is taking place against the backdrop of Faure’s accusations – you have neglected the districts for four years!
Despite their ability at repartee, LDS is silent on those accusations because of the undeniable truth in them. A look at Anse Etoile is proof enough. After fighting for election as Anse Etoile MNA, Ahmed Afif has been unable to deliver the promised market for the fishermen of that district. Michel promised a high class playing filed with seating capacity, but the Faure administration has only delivered the synthetic playing field. Afif has been unable to stop the projects in his districts from becoming activities which start every five years and which go cold after election, only to be revived come the next round of voting. A classic example is the opening of the association for the fishermen and the market project. Who knows, they might even be completed by the US government before these elections are over!
