May 11, 2005
Texting for votes
Ethiopia’s election has entered the mobile age. For the first time supporters of the various parties and coalitions have started pestering people with SMS campaign messages. Here are of the messages that are doing the rounds. From this informal poll it looks like the opposition CUD has the technological edge over the ruling EPRDF.
"Vote bee. If you vote bee / You will eat honey / If you vote for the two fingers / You will loose the three others.""If you love your country, for so many reasons you already know, vote for KINIGIT! Please send this for 5 others."
"Kinigitin alememret mebt new, negr gin yemekeran gize marazem new" (Not to vote CUD is a right, bit it is a right that would prolong misery.)
"Ehadegin miretu, ehagegin bitimertu, hiwotachihu kalefew 14 amet yebelete be hiv, besira atiet ina, bechigir yetemola endihone enadergalen." (Vote EPRDF, if you vote for EPRDF, we will fill your life with more HIV and poverty than you have seen in the past 14 years.)
"Show your response towards Alamoudi’s support to Woyane by not drinking any of the Pepsi products. Pass this message to five country-loving Ethiopians."
I suppose it is an advance of sorts. But it won’t be long now until companies start joining in and Ethiopia will be buried in mobile spam.
Posted by aheavens at May 11, 2005 7:17 PM
Comments
Hello:
It is the technology of the mind rather than the technology that is working in such complexity. It shows the maturity of society and the capability and capacity of society to live within the high order of democracy same as the other advance societies of the west.
Peace
Zeg Fanta
Posted by: Zewge Fanta at May 12, 2005 4:08 PM
It shows finally ethiopians arrived at the era of liberal democracy free and fair election like any other western nations, as the European union represntative claimed, it is rael 'MIRACLE' what is hapening now, when you remember the Red Teror and one party suffocation of the Dergue era for long 17 years, so many life perished to bring these style of democracy to ethiopia, it is ended a milestone in African politics, which the world is observing in silence and ethiopians are enjoying their true freedom for the first time in these countries modern history.
Good Bless Ethiopia
Posted by: solomon at May 13, 2005 1:19 PM
Ladies and Gentelmen, these is the dom of an era what is hapening in Ethiopia, it is certainly changed the political landscape of the country, that we ethiopians in diaspora is in no way to recognize it anymore, long gone the era of EPRP or anyother overseas based so called "political parties" long gone the public domenstration in streets of London and Washington..it is for real long gone. The new buzz word these days is CUD,who is a new comer to the game and trully homegrown opposition party, and trying to beat the EPRDF in its own game, these shows the maturity of CUD, which is finally we are witnessing the emergence of fully mature opposition party, who knows the game and can play accordingly. I am trully impressed with the achievment of CUD, whithin short period of time, unlike other so called opposition parties, who have still the minds of armed struglle of 80s.
God Bless our beloved country.
Posted by: solomon at May 14, 2005 3:23 PM
Wish the parties here had come up with some slogans like that. Would've made my last few weeks much more interesting!
I've been really impressed by what you and Amber have been up to over the last few months Andrew. The UNICEF trip was a depressing one. I haven't seen anything about this in the UK media. Disgraceful. Hope you and Amber are both well.
All the best,
Davie
Posted by: Davie at May 15, 2005 10:41 AM