by Isaac Madengu Mangatu

Created on: February 05, 2010

A very true and very profound statement is always said and now almost has no meaning but it is one of the greatest statements ever regarding election, "elections has consequences".

Voting is not just to place someone in office, it is the decision on what you are allowed to eat, how your kids will lead their lives tomorrow and what kind of future your family will have. Many people do not care about voting yet they scream foul each time the elected officials make dumb decisions. Voting has to be one of the most important decisions one has to make ever in their life.

Democracy is great in that it allows certain freedoms. We know that freedom comes with responsibility and if we are to be responsible we need to place value on what we think and do. We cannot afford to walk blind folded, we need to be informed and be above whatever we do.

Politicians and those in Public office need to know that their employers value their positions and will hold them accountable each and every election.

Elections in a democratic state are not an event that just happens because it is required by law but it is a significant event to decide the direction in which the nation will take.

In a country with 300 million people, there will alway be differing opinions and mindsets, elections allows people to have a good hard look at those people who want the public office and by voting we are declaring that we endorse their ideas and support them.

There are countries where people do not have the privilege to vote, leaders are imposed on them and they have no choice. I grew up in Zimbabwe, elections as we all know in Zimbabwe were fixed and we all know how things have turned up there.

If people are allowed and have the freedom to vote, they can change their minds whenever people are not living up to their expectations and not doing their job. We have to be mindful of the freedom that we have when we vote, we are exercising our power and our choices.

Without choice we are left with an oppressive regime that controls what we say, how we say it, what we eat and the cost of services can be whatever anyone decides.

Voting in my view helps maintain what we can call "checks and balances" in public office. It opens doors for people to have a say in their Government and direction that they want the leaders to take. I will be bold to say that voting is as important as eating.

If you do not eat you will grow hungry and we all know you eventually die if you starve. If you do not vote you are giving up your right to make a difference in the future of your family. 

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