BCP pulls another first with SMS donation
Oarabile Mosikare | Friday April 11, 2014 12:32
On Monday, BCP sent out messages on social media telling members across the breath of the country that the party has introduced a donation mobile SMS line.
All one needs to do is sms the word ‘Donate’ to number 16506, and P1 will go into the party account to help finance the expensive electioneering of its candidates. According the newly appointed BCP campaign manager Thapelo Ndlovu, the party was thinking beyond the traditional fund raising methods and exploring new innovations.
“As is generally known political parties face the daunting task of resource mobilisation and raising funds.
As a party that prides itself of leading in terms of innovation it was only proper that we think ahead of others,” said Ndlovu.
He said with SMS donation, they are basically meeting the potential donor half way by reducing other stressful activities to do with the donation process.
“They now can donate while seated in their couches.
They do not have to wait for morning to make a donation. They do not have to travel to a particular place to effect their donation; they can do the donation without any physical contact with us. It can actually be a positive habit to thumb in P1s every other moment without too much stress,” he said.
He said the primary reason for this initiative is the party’s readiness to self-reliance.
“We are demonstrating that if given the country to run, innovation and technology will be one of our priority areas; we are demonstrating that we do not only wail at challenges but make efforts to address them.”
The SMS donation initiative is not a new phenomenal in politics. During the 2012 USA elections it was reported that President Barack Obama raised more funds than Mitt Romney by a 73-to-1 ratio in campaign donations made using text messages.
It was reported that Obama’s campaign paid $84,655 in fees to m-Qube Group, which manages the new text-to-donate programmes of both candidates. Romney’s campaign reported paying $1,152. Each campaign pays a percentage of what’s raised in fees to the firm.