Jacob Zuma emulates Obama to use technology for election campaign

THE ruling African National Congress (ANC) President Jacob Zuma, has stepped up the momentum of 2009 election campaign, this time around embarking on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to reach out to more than 48 million South Africans, an official told ITNewsAfrica this afternoon.

The latest move barely comes three months after the United States of America (USA) President-elect, Barack Obama, had used technology to clobber the Republican candidate, John McCain, an election that helped him become the first ever black president of the US.

ANC spokesperson, Jessie Duarte, told ITNewsAfrica on Friday afternoon that the ANC was launching an initiative to encourage discussions of its 2009 Election Manifesto online, using the web, mobile phone and popular social media platforms to bring the ANC closer to the people, and people closer to each other.

“This coincides with the release by ANC President Jacob Zuma of the organisation’s 2009 election manifesto in East London tomorrow, Saturday, 10 January. From its formation, the ANC has been a meeting place for South Africans concerned with building a better future. This online initiative is part of an ongoing dialogue among South Africans about how to address the challenges facing the country.

“It follows the success of the popular campaign launched last year – under the theme “My Vision. My Future.” – which invited members of the public to make suggestions towards the ANC’s 2009 election manifesto. Tomorrow, the ANC is taking this a step further by establishing an online space for discussion and debate about the organisation’s plans to further improve the lives of the people of South Africa,” said Duarte.

She said the initiative aims at making use of the growing importance of the internet and the wide reach of cellphone technology to involve even greater numbers of South Africans in determining the direction of the country for the next five years.

Duarte said members of the public were invited to view and comment on the ANC’s 2009 Election manifesto which will be available for comment at www.myanc.org and www.myanc.mobi from 12h00 on Saturday—ITNewsAfrica.