Democratic Alliance: Zillemania, yes she can

A picture of Nelson Mandela flashed up on the screen situated at the front of the Democratic Alliance’s gathering at Constitution Hill, Johannesburg and was instantly met with a roar of approval from those gathered there. In that instance I realised why I have always had the highest regard for the leaders and members of the Democratic Alliance; their decency and integrity.

Here was the former president of South Africa, a leader and lifetime member of their biggest rivals — the ANC — and yet they could appreciate and endorse what he had achieved for their country. Contrast this with the Republicans who attended Senator John McCain’s magnanimous speech in accepting Barrack Obama’s victory in the race for the US presidency and you get the picture.

Where the DA preach strength through diversity it is not mere lip service to an electorate but, as seen above, a living thing which their faithful practice spontaneously and without restraint. It really was a marvellous moment and brought no little goosebumps.

The morning started with a viewing of South Africans from all walks of life and any category you could think of, setting out their dreams for South Africa. This was followed on stage by various DA leaders giving their dream of what a South Africa of their choice would entail.

It was brilliantly done and if you weren’t feeling emotional by the time Helen Zille walked out to thunderous applause you’d best check with your doctor about early symptoms of psycopathy.

ZILLEMANIA

The message was clear; the time for opposition is passing; a new dawn is here.

The party would be standing firm on its core values but a new mindset and reality had arrived.

The Democratic Alliance, armed with its new logo of a morning sun, was aiming at governing South Africa. Helen Zille, Mayor of the Year and leader of the DA was adamant that if a Senator from Illinois could make history in the United States of America then “yes, we can”.

“Yes we can!” the faithful roared back.

Can they?

OBAMANIA

My regular readers know that I was highly visible in my support for Barrack Obama. This included appearing on the BBC in a number of discussions, writing numerous pieces and featuring on Obama’s official and supporting sites. Throughout, one thing struck me as vital to success, which the DA must learn now:

DON”T JUST SAY IT — BELIEVE IT! If you believe it, and I mean really believe it, your conduct, your body language and your campaign will reflect that. Obama’s supporters and his party got behind him and tackled everything and everyone. There were no red states and blue states, simply voters who could be tapped. Republican policies? Sez who? You got to triangulate a little, crib a little, take what’s good and spin a little, that’s the story of, that’s the glory of, love.

If the Democratic Alliance believe in themselves they must be in your face. When Chiefs play Pirates, Zille and co should be there. When the issue of Zimbabwe is being raised the DA should be in the townships asking the residents to tell the SABC or e.tv or anyone else what they think of exiles bribing city councils for houses and then explaining to them what the DA thinks of all this and their plans on service delivery.

Obama credited his electorate with an understanding of the issues that McCain did not. McCain spoke down to them about Joe the Plumber so they could identify with him. That’s garbage. The electorate understand when they are being shafted; simply speak to them. Obama castigated his own community and picked up flack from the Reverend Jesse Jackson. He spoke up to them, expected better from them so he could make it better for them.

The DA owns the moral high ground but has a credibility problem among the masses because they lack some real blood and guts speakers who can get in there and sell what is a good product. That is where they are going to have to recruit, recruit, recruit and recruit some more. There are tons of highly educated, resourceful and exiting black leaders in the new South Africa. Forget the garbage about black diamonds being rare. Come and sit in my canteen and you’ll realise that the country is flooded with them. Intelligent, well spoken (other than those Kaiser Chiefs morons like Sibusiso) and married to the same views that the DA holds dear.

If they can harness dynamic, young black leadership and marry it to their core values but with a nothing-less-than-victory-attitude …

You bet they can.