May 12, 2005
Ethiopians use texting in election campaign
Strapped for cash, Ethiopians in the capital Addis Ababa have discovered a new way of campaigning for Sunday's elections -- the text message, reports Reuters.
"Locals in Addis Ababa have reported a flurry of last minute texting, urging voters to support the ruling party, widely expected to win a third five-year term, or the opposition coalition.
[...] "It's the first time such methods have been used. This is a clever way of campaigning that we have not thought of before," Getahun Amogen Belay, spokesman for the National Electoral Board, said."
[...] But many young Ethiopians think the texts are a bit of fun that won't change their minds one way or another. The election will be decided at the grassroots, where most of the 70 million population have never used a phone, let alone a mobile one.
"What really makes a difference are the debates on television," said 24 year-old Meseret Mulugeta."
More on cell phones and Ethiopia:
-- Ethiopia. The SIM card stampede - Young men got up early to push and shove to get hold of one of the 200,000 new mobile phone lines that have been offered to the public over the past few weeks.
-- Ethiopian election campaign by SMS - Two political parties contesting in Ethiopia's May 15 national elections have been making effective use of mobile phone short message service to campaign.
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