On the contrary, some voters attribute the marginalisation of their constituencies to representatives in opposition parties. Voters argue that MPs in opposition do not have much privilege like the MPs in the ruling party to lobby the government for development. The other reason voters expose is attached to sabotage by MPs in opposition to the implementation of government programs. Every party wants to be seen as relevant, which sometimes results in positive or negative criticism of the ruling party. Usually, the criticism against the government and its programs results in tension between the government and the opposition. Some voters perceive criticism by the opposition as antagonistic and assume that their MPs going against government ideology and programs jeopardises the government’s responsiveness to the needs of their community.
Women MPs campaign strategies
MPs use creative, impressive, persuasive campaign strategies to influence voter perceptions. They usually make promises to voters during campaigns that touch on the people’s well-being. When promises align with voter expectations, they positively influence perceptions and the likelihood for the MP to be voted. One of the FGD participants declared that a woman MP who was serving her fourth term and on the open seat gave convincing speeches. It is vital to make voters believe and accept that what the MP says is credible and will positively change their lives. A good campaign is what voters usually refer to when deciding who is a good representative; most of the time, they support convincing women who eloquently articulate their ideologies. Women MPs attest to the importance of effective campaigns in their electoral success. However, it has also turned out that MPs, not just women, make beautiful promises during their campaigns and never fulfil them. MPs’ failure to fulfil promises in the previous elections influences perceptions about the MP in the forthcoming elections. Elections are a process of mandate giving that should be reciprocated by fulfilling an assignment once in office through policy programs and legislation that meet the electorate’s needs (Dahlberg 2009:15).
To give good speeches, MPs do much consultation at the constituency level; this has an additional advantage in affecting voter perceptions. Voters feel that they matter and their opinions matter if they are consulted. Women MPs have highlighted their keen attention to their constituencies’ needs and talked about them in campaigns and Parliament. Many women have gone ahead to lobby the government to address those issues, for example, wildlife concerns, water challenges, girl child education and sanitary pads.
Finally, women’s dress code is an avenue that women use to affect perceptions about them among voters; how women dress and present themselves accords with assumptions about their credibility for political office. Women’s sexualised appearance affects perceptions about women as representatives. Voters are likely to depict female candidates wearing revealing attire as incompetent, less honest and trustworthy, and less electable (Smith et al. 2018:1). Women have tried to affect perceptions by going to campaigns wearing the traditional long gown ‘gomesi’, thought to be a decent dress that denotes respect. One woman MP noted that when she first campaigned, she had to borrow a gomesi from her sister-in-law (Individual Interview, Oyam 2021). Also, Tamale (1999:95) found women to wear traditional attire to appeal to the electorate. It is common for women to assume a feminine appearance to appeal to voters on essential occasions.