The Baptist Union of Southern Africa (BUSA) is urging its members to vote in national and provincial elections set for April 22 in South Africa.

"Every citizen of South Africa is given an opportunity to vote for the party of their choice to become the government. If good people do not vote, only bad people will vote, and the results will be disastrous," the Christian Citizenship Committee of BUSA said in its voting guidelines to Baptist churches in South Africa, according to a media release from the Baptist World Alliance (BWA).

"Many good people are disillusioned and discouraged...they feel politics is so hopelessly corrupt, it is useless becoming involved in it," the BUSA guidelines said, "but we must seek the peace and prosperity of the city and state in which God has placed us.

"We want competent leaders to lead our land," the guidelines read, even if these leaders are not religious.

"Some of the finest political leaders in history have not necessarily been deeply religious or spiritual people.In His common grace, God has given certain skills to particular people," the guideinnes say.

Even while urging Baptists to vote, the Baptist union called on Baptists to "pray that South Africa's democracy may be strengthened," and for "more men and women to be elected who have a real desire to serve the nation and not just their own interests."

The BWA news release says the elections on April 22 will elect a new national assembly as well as the provincial legislature for each province. The national assembly will select the person to become president of the Republic of South Africa.

According to the BWA release, the African National Congress (ANC), the ruling party, is expected to win the election and form the new government with Jacob Zuma as president.

The ANC is expected to face challenges from several other parties, including the Congress of the People, formed in 2008 by members of the ANC who broke away from that party.

Source: By Michael Ireland
Chief Correspondent, ASSIST News Service