Prison Journalism: Election Week! 30 years of Freedom

Once again it’s time for elections. Based on if you’re incarcerated/institutionalised or outside in life, elections have different meanings for these two groups.

As a prisoner, elections normally mean early release. As a law-abiding citizen, this is about negative or positive changes or improvements. Members of society would be hoping there will be a change of leadership, knowing how the economy is going to be affected.

There is also another social group that just do not care about the elections at all, who sees the election process as useless and do not believe in the potential system at all. 

When I was an active criminal

When I was an active criminal (e.g. drug dealer), I never really cared about the elections. I used to look at politicians as facilitators for criminals with higher status to be placed in positions, steal more money than I could!!! So I never cared about voting.

I know now that dumb way of looking at the system. That was how my mind set at that time. I laugh out loud!!!

My First Time Voting

This year is going to be the very first time I am voting. The city I am from is a beautiful city. Currently in Cape Town, there has been lots of construction and development, new stadiums, and government offices going up. Lots of roads are being worked on as well. My city even sold a national heritage site as well and even with homelessness and high crime, the city looks good.

My Prayer for the Elections

My prayer for the elections is that God opens the hearts and minds of all those in different political parties and actually make the nation the priority of whoever will be in power. May whoever is elected actually understand the heavy load. May everyone elected actually find the understanding of how to work together and not be driven by power, but have the wisdom to unite this diverse nation as it was in the years of freedom.

Please vote, never mind what I’ve written.

May God be with our beloved nation.

DISCLAIMER: Submission published as received

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