T'keians foresee UDM as main opposition in EC

By Stan Mzimba

UMTATA -- A Daily Dispatch survey has found that residents here see the United Democratic Movement as the third or fourth most popular opposition party nationally and many feel it will be the main opposition in the province after today's poll.

Many residents felt that for the first time the Afican National Congress was threatened in Transkei by the party led by the former Transkei military strongman, Bantu Holomisa.

The acting head of the Department of Political Studies at the University of Transkei, Ms Xoliswa Jozana, said ANC support in Transkei "began dwindling when the ANC started neglecting the region."

Jozana said the ANC received 80 percent of the Transkei vote in 1994, but now she thought the party would win 60 percent.

Jozana said when the ANC realised that its support was dwindling, it sent President Nelson Mandela, Deputy President Thabo Mbeki and othe government heavyweights to campaign aggressively for the party.

"Holomisa has not been effective, but reactive in his campaigns," Jozana said.

"I am personally not sure who to vote for," quipped Jozana.

She said the UDM could have increased its support bases in a number of provinces had it played its cards "well".

She also said the Freedom Day incident at Independence Stadium, during which UDM supporters disrupted the proceedings, had cost the party a considerable number of votes.

She predicted the ANC would capture most votes, followed by the Democratic Party, New National Party and the UDM.

Umtata businessman Monga-meli Mtembu said the UDM would not become a majority party in the Eastern Cape, but would make a good opposition party to "shake up Bisho".

Local entrepreneur Monde Dlulane placed the UDM in fourth spot in the national election, "but it will certainly not win a majority in the Eastern Cape."

Umtata estate agent Zikode Kubukeli said what had cost the ANC votes in the province was that Transkei turned into Bisho's "polecat" after 1994.

Kubukeli also predicted the UDM would finish in either third or fourth spot in the national election.