Political minnow the Moderate Independent Party (MIP) kicked off its 2004 election campaign on Monday, aiming to capture five to 10 seats in the Western Cape provincial parliament.
In a statement on Monday from party leader Malcolm Taylor, he said the decision on whether to contest the elections nationally will be decided within the next two weeks.
”The Moderate Independent Party programme of action for the week will be focused on explaining our realistic manifesto to the community, and encouraging community members to register themselves for the elections,” Taylor said.
Campaign leaders will be working alongside the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) on door-to-door information drives and in distributing information pamphlets.
Taylor said that following on the party’s campaign of 2000, the MIP is demanding that politicians in power fulfil the promises they have made in the past before making new ones.
”For the most part we believe that parties such as [the] ANC, DA and NNP that have made big promises have failed in delivery. Even with countless failures behind them we note a stubborn trend in politicians to go it alone in decision-making about community matters, without the community,” said Taylor.
He said in this year’s elections the MIP wants voters to hold all politicians accountable for their work in the community over the past few years.
He said the party’s slogan is ”Society is a joint effort” and he believes that together, the MIP and the communities could bring an end to ”the circus of events that especially plagues the Western Cape political world”.
Taylor said his party is open to discussions with all political parties contesting the election in the Western Cape.
”I am hoping to speak to Peter Marais [leader of the New Labour Party] and Patricia de Lille [Independent Democrats leader] with a view to see where we can work together. The elections are not just about fighting to win an area, but fighting for development in communities,” he said.
The MIP had its humble beginnings as the Middle Party, registering itself shortly before the local government elections of 2000. Setting up candidates only in the Cape Town unicity, the party managed to attain one seat in council. — Sapa