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African politicians turn to Z-CARDs

1 Apr 2009

The Zimbabwe Research Initiative (ZRI), an initiative established by disaffected Zimbabweans to determine the impact events and developments has on the country, produced a "Vote MDC" Z-CARD that encouraged people to vote for the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), in the country's elections held early last year. Using the influence soccer has on people living in the country, ZRI created cards that used soccer rules to communicate the message.

One million credit card-sized Z-CARDs were designed and produced, in three different languages, to promote opposition leader of the MDC, Morgan Tsvangirai, as the ideal candidate to lead the country out of its current sate of doom and gloom. The cards utilised the concept of soccer rules in the form of soccer's "Red Card" and "Green Card" to highlight the fact that the current leader should be given a "Red Card" and asked to leave the political playing soccer field. Tsvangirai on the other hand should be given a "Green Card" as he is the best substitute for the job.

The red side of the card listed ten "fouls" the Mugabe government has made in the past that have culminated in the necessity of a "Red Card" asking him to leave the political playing field. Fouls such as 'Violence and Repression', 'Corruption and Plunder' as well as 'Destroying the Economy' are some of the issues highlighted. The green side of the card listed ten goals that were part of Tsvangirai's campaign such as, 'Freedom", 'Land Reform', 'Unification of the People' and 'Restoring the National Currency'.

In South Africa, political parties have also made use of the Z-CARD. The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) initially produced 150,000 cards detailing its party manifesto. The cards were distributed at the party's first national conference that took place at the end of January this year. They have apparently ordered an additional 780,000 IFP manifestos in five different language variations.

The South African Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has also made use of the Z-CARDs in the past as educational tools for IEC staff members and information guides for first time and seasoned South African voters. The cards carried information on the IEC's Vision and Mission, its Code of Conduct, information on party agents and observers and general voting information.

A Z-CARD is designed using a printed and branded sheet, (A4 or bigger) which is then folded easily into a hard backed, pocket-sized shape aiming to keep the card portable and retainable.

For more information regarding Z-Cards go to www.z-card.com.