Africa's electorate respond positive to populist manipulation Mashakada

MDC-T senior official Tapiwa Mashakada has  lamented that Africa's electorate usually respond positively to populist manipulation.

He said are voters sensitive to alternative party policies or they make decisions based on their assessment of the political and economic
environment of their times.

"Is this what happens in Africa or in western democracies? Elections in Africa must be issues based but this is highly compromised by the profile
of voters and their literacy levels. The majority of voters in Africa are rural voters who care about their immediate needs not necessarily future
needs," he said.

"In some African country that I am familiar with, the ruling party dished out salt and torches to the rural voters. Another party struggled to give
them a futuristic view of real development, food security, health and education and so on -- real bread and butter issues. So which is the way to
go? The electorate in Africa respond more to populist manipulation than reality on the ground. And this is really a tragedy for Africa. I opine
that voter education is required to sensitise the African voter about the stakes."

Mashakada said voters must know that the power is in their hands to change governements.

"But it seems to me that Africa is still far from it. Popular manipulation and rigging are the methods used by most ruling parties to win as opposed
to sound policies. All this is possible because of the rural voters who are vulnerable. In this regard we need a new narrative on electoral democracy
in Africa," he said.