Saasi Marvin Augustin
For those at Makerere University, it is only a few weeks to the beginning of the second semester, which officially opens on 31st January 2015 at 12pm. While some are looking forward to it because it is going to be their last semester at Campus, others it’s because they can not wait to advance to their next academic year and yet for others, they are looking at it from a completely different perspective: elections.
There is a special group of people, a group of people who have found it almost impossible to have a good night of sleep because come next semester, they are determined that by hook or crook, they must contest for one of the various leadership positions available for students at Campus.
The thought of losing the election immediately gets them shivering, thinking of how best they can prevent such a “catastrophe” that would leave their self esteem in an un-prescriptionable paralysis; a catastrophe that would not only blow their self-confidence into smithereens, but as well leave their financial pockets requiring a good number of stitches as a result of the heavy financial investment
they will have incurred during the campaigns in the false hope that this would be the time the gods would smile down on them and place victory in their hands. A loss that would leave them questioning their sense of judgment and regretting why they ever paid attention to that investment guru who kept insisting “you [always] reap where you sow” when clearly this should be a self-manifestation of the saying “never put in more than you can afford to lose.” Well, fret no more, for here is the ultimate guide on how to win a Campus election.
Be popular amongst your electorate.
Do not delude yourself, no one is going to vote a person whose mere existence they’ve never been aware of. Just how do you be popular? Take part in social events that your electorate participate in, for instance if there is a sports competition take part in it. If you cant participate, atleast go and cheer them on. Stand out of the crowd. You dnt have to make the loudest noise, but you also don’t have to look like you went there to practise your freedom of silence. Make friends with as many people as you can, and do not assume that just because they are your friends, they’ll automatically vote for you; ask them for their vote. If you walk through the hallway and no one even waves at you, brother you must be an invisible ghost, and last time I checked, invisible ghosts don’t get voted.
Pray. Pray. Pray to God.
Forget the small gods you grew up seeing your ancestors worship; all leadership comes from GOD. Let God in on your plans. As you are busy assuming, he knows how badly you need to win the election. He’s busy listening to your opponent unleashing his manifesto while in prayer. Pray for God’s guidance during the campaign period, and pray to him to open the eyes of your potential voters to see that they would miss out on if they voted any one else other than you. When you are done praying to him, pray again for no reason. That gentleman seated up there in heaven listens to prayer, trust me on that.
Logistics.
One time I sat listening to a candidate campaigning. In my hand was a bottle of soda which he had brought along, while in my heart was a “bottle” of ‘culture’ money that the people who campaign from halls must always leave behind after campaigning. [The drinks or eats, or the money one has to put in the culture box before campaigning is collectively known as LOGISTICS.] Suddenly it occurred to me, that if at all there would have been no free drinks or financial expectations from this guy, we would not be giving the guy audience because we can not waste our time listening for nothing yet there are a thousand alternative better things we could be doing at that time. Period. Giving logistics at campus is not a bribe. Atleast that’s the assumption. If you want audience, you better bring logistics along, it wins people’s attention.
Have a “killer” strategy.
It could be organising a drink up for the entire electorate just a day before the election, or organising a sports gala running from the day campaigns kick off to just a few days before the election, and put an attractive prize for the overall winner. That will keep you on the voters’ lips and in their thoughts, making you popular. And if you remember tip #1, then you know what that means.
Appearance.
Be well groomed. Dress smartly. Smell nice. Be Consistent in doing all that. It earns you respect. Respect earns you votes.
Have a winning, well articulated manifesto.
You’ll give them your logistics, cheer them on, dress smartly bla bla bla but at the end of it all, they are going to vote that guy who promised to ensure that the faulty lights are fixed, the smelly places of convenience are going to be well maintained and that that thief who usually sneaks into your rooms at 3am to take what “belongs to him” will be dealt with. Identify and promise to solve their problems.
