SA billboard activists are fighting for a free election

By Lance Guma
05 December 2007

The Zimbabwean group behind a series of billboards sprouting up in South Africa has finally opened up to the media and spoken about their campaign. Although still concealing his real identity, Reverend Nkululeko from Zimbabwe Democracy Now, spoke to our Behind the Headlines programme this week and says they are motivated by a desire to see democratic elections in Zimbabwe. He said elections should meet the SADC guidelines, which are there specifically to promote an environment for free and fair polls.

Reverend Nkululeko says a coalition of church and NGO groups is behind their organisation and helped them erect over 5 billboards in areas like Musina, Park Station in central Johannesburg and Diepsloot and Thembisa in Soweto. Two months ago their billboard in Musina hit the headlines when the local council ordered it be pulled down. Nkululeko told us they had information that pressure from Mugabe’s government led to the Musina council making that decision. Within days Zimbabwe Democracy Now had put up a new one and this led to armed South African police, accompanied by 9 soldiers in a troop carrier, swooping on the two advertising workers erecting the billboard at the site.

Since then the courts in South Africa have protected their right to free expression and the billboard was left intact. Now emboldened by the success of the first Musina billboard, Zimbabwe Democracy Now have commissioned their advertising agency to put up more billboards. They are planning one that will greet visitors on their way to top tourist attraction Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela spent 27 years of his life in jail. Robben Island will be changed into the shape of Zimbabwe on the billboard and a message will ask people to ‘remember those who are still not free.’

The messages on the billboards have gone right to the heart of Zimbabwe’s problems. Reverend Nkululeko admits a lot of strategic planning is going into deciding the location and content of the messages. Thembisa in Soweto for example has a huge migrant population of Zimbabweans and many will be exposed to the messages. He said: ‘We are asking why there are so many Zimbabweans in South Africa? The answer is freedom.’ He urged all Zimbabweans in exile who are able to go back home, to use the opportunity and vote in coming elections. He says this is the only way to bring about democratic change.