Cde JZ charms Limpopo

"Zuma, Zuma, Zuma, we want Zuma" chanted thousands and thousands of ANC supporters in Limpopo during the recent visit by the ANC President, Cde Jacob Zuma, accompanied by amongst others, Cde Treasurer, Matthews Phosa.

Obviously, the NEC had a prepared speech for Cde Zuma but sometimes we struggle to wait for the part where Cde Zuma will speak to us in a way where understand best; that is when he sings his heart out, winning our hearts and minds.

No one gets to the people like Cde JZ does with "mshini wami". Except for the reason that the Congress of the People (COPE) can't reverse a history of close to 100 years in a few months, the ANC will win the 2009 general elections hands down, with a third third majority as Cde JZ puts it.

The songs that Cde JZ sings communicates so sharply his struggle pains, post-apartheid frustrations and his vision for the country. For this reason, and the way the songs bring close to the heart memories of the struggle for freedom, COPE will not cope with the immediate task to win voters in such a short space of time.

The history of breakaways is not easy in politics. In soccer, something that ordinary people understand and relate to easier than the high politics which only a few of us can follow, Kaizer Chiefs successfully broke away from Orlando Pirates, a team that, at the time, represented black pride as rugby represent 'white' pride today. The hype and momentum which was immediately created when Chiefs was initiated could be carried over a long period by the fact that in soccer you always have the immediate opportunity to play and win games against your rivals, in that manner affirming the correctness of your decision to cut ties.

In politics, the time requred to build yourself up is long and to keep your party and its relevance dominant in the public mind may be a formidable task to accomplish.

People are very forgiving and inexplicably strange. Whatever shortcomings and political blunders the ANC might have committed, collectively and as individual leaders, will be forgiven before the 2011 municipal and 2014 general elections unless COPE manages to, in a credible way and consistently, the dirty laundry of the ANC hang all out.

But you have a resilient and tested leader, who must still emerge clearly within COPE, such a Zuma, who notwithstanding everything thrown at him, sings it away as did freedom fighters and activits during the dark days of apartheid.

But some observers assert that elections are by their nature popularity contests but simply not "you think you can sing" talent search shows. You win them on the basis of substance. The challenge lies right here, Cde JZ sings very well but what he sings is not simply a song, a seemingly violent one at that, it is a war cry, a deeper means of communication that has not being found by others parties. The DA when it launched its new logo recently delved into song and dance, a clear sign and new appreciation that songs defines who you are and are better records of history, especially in a way that is sentimental.

COPE will be overwhelmed by the sheer history of the ANC. COPE will need songs, values, tradition and culture. This, it is possible, they can have better ones over the ANC. But it will take them forever to catch up merely because it takes long to develop those.

But the people are better placed to determine what is in their best interests, marching forward to 2012, which is the centenary of the ANC or we trace our steps back to 1955 and forge forward afresh into the 21 century.