We Moved. Voting Wise.

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Voting. Change of address. We don't vote for this party anymore.

We usually say that when we go and live somewhere else: different address, zip code, state or country. Sometimes we forget to tell the people we money that we are moving. They continue sending us bills. If new tenants are kind, they write RETURN TO SENDER on the envelope and drop it in the mail.

It’s difficult with voting. I can’t move away from my party just like that. It’s a habit. Many reasons. Grandparents voted for this party or it’s the first party I voted for when I turned 18. That’s why someone somewhere in America, coined the term ‘blue’ and ‘red’ states. Political parties are like family. There is bound to be disagreement over toothpaste, milk, shoveling snow, loud music, late nights and using the car, but it doesn’t result in a complete decapitation of the family. O.K. Fine. We move out and rent a bachelor apartment, but mom is still mom. The irritating brother is still brother.

Political parties are not family. But they are in a way, because it is so painful to finally decide that I cannot vote for ‘my usual’ party anymore. I’ll rather vote for that other party, I’ve always voted against, jump from the top of the Victoria Falls and hope to land safely down there. It’s not an overnight decision. There have been water leaks, but we called the plumber and she fixed them. Then there were things that cannot be fixed mechanically. Hope. Things deteriorated to a point of no return. The DNA, the foundation has been compromised. The termites are so well-established the woodwork is gone.

That’s why we moved. Voting wise.

Nonqaba waka Msimang

Executive Blogger

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