It’s election time. And what better way to fly the flag and spread the voting message, than a village to town SWAPO road show, in a vehicle that plays loud music, spreads the word and draw the crowds.
Parked on the sidewalk this week, with the SWAPO colours and bold voting slogan was the SWAPO road show IVECO bus, which is one of two campaign vehicles that were brought in from Cape Town for a nationwide tour spanning nearly two months.
Both the IVECO and VW mobilisation sound vans were re-branded here in Windhoek in the lively colours of red, blue and green making them impossible to miss at the rallies.
And as the travelling busses weave their way around the country playing music, handing out pamphlets and taking the message to the people, they also bring along an element of fun filled excitement and election fever.
Haroldt Urib (SWAPO Road show Co-ordinator), told Woema that the vehicles have been in the country for the past three weeks, and have travelled vast distances already. They have been up in the North attending a SWAPO rally in the Ohangweni Region, the Oshikoto Region in Tsumeb and Otjiwarongo, as well as Khorixas, Kamanjab, Outjo, Sestfontein and Fransfontein.
He said that there were only three people per vehicle during the trips, as they were modified inside and fitted out mostly high-tech with sound equipment. It was mentioned that the music of choice played at the rallies was a mix of traditional revolutionary SWAPO songs, as well as the modern young hip-hop and kwaito sounds to suit rally goers young and old.
The campaign material and message delivered at the rallies, is delivered by the campaign teams designated for each of the regions which is boomed over the speakers.
The two vehicles are currently in Windhoek preparing for the upcoming rallies this week end. The VW will head to the Gobabis Rally on Saturday, whilst the IVECO will be loud and proud at the Founding President Sam Nujoma’s rally held this week-end in the capital. After the road show wagons will head off to Outapi.
“By the end of the campaign these SWAPO road show busses would have criss-crossed this country in a way SWAPO has not done before,” said Haroldt. “We have managed to take a 21st century mobile sound system to the people and reach communities with the party message through music and targeted information in ways that previously were not done.”
Once the election campaign is over by the end of November, the vehicles will return to South Africa. But meanwhile watch out for these colour SWAPO sound wagons a town or village near you.