- IEC emphasises elections will take place in October
- Confirms total of 1 038 261 registered voters
BONGANI MALUNGA
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has iterated that only the President of the Republic of Botswana can announce the exact date of election ahead of the poll taking place.
Providing an update on preparations for the 2024 general elections on Btv recently, the Secretary of the IEC, Jeffrey Siamisang, emphasised that the elections will take place in October because the month will mark exactly five years since the last elections (2019).
“The Constitution of Botswana is clear in its provision that the President is the one permitted to communicate the exact date of the general election,” he said.
Agitation
“Only the incumbent President can make this announcement. It is the norm that our general elections in Botswana are held in October of every election year. This October marks five years since the last elections.”
The IEC update came in a climate of agitation over what is considered President Mokgweetsi Masisi’s delay in announcing the date with only one month between now and the traditional month of general elections every five years.
Last month, the opposition Botswana Congress Party (BCP) challenged the President to make the announcement without any further delay, saying declaring the date would promote fair play and transparency.
Achieved 80% of target
The IEC confirmed that it has ratified and certified the official voters’ roll and that there are 1 038 261 registered voters. This is an 80 percent attainment of the IEC’s target of 1.3 million registered voters after three rounds of registration.
Siamisang said the IEC is determined to do its best in overseeing the general elections in October. “We are confident because the backbone of an election is the voter registration process, (and) we have achieved that,” he asserted.
“This is evident in the registration number we have confirmed. Secondly, we have election material such as ballot boxes, polling booths and stationery readily available.”
Dissolution of Parliament
However, the IEC secretary said ballot papers will be ordered and printed after dissolution of Parliament and subsequent nomination of presidential and parliamentary candidates.
He explained that after Parliament is dissolved, presidential candidates will each have to approach the Chief Justice with 1000 supporters for the nomination process.
After the presidential nominations, each parliamentary and council candidate must garner seven supporters ahead of returning officers in their respective constituencies.
Foolproof Election Management System
“After the nomination processes have been finalised, we will have a clear picture of party symbols and colours,” Siamisang said. “That will put us in a position to order and eventually print ballot papers.”
He emphasised that IEC has an election management system to prevent people from voting in multiple constituencies in place, noting that the system has only one valid entry for voters.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of Communications and International Relations Committee of the ruling Botswana Democratic Party, Kagelelo Kentse, says there is no need to panic over announcement of the date of elections.
“The President has not broken any law”
“There is no cause to panic regarding announcement of the election date which will be done by the President,” he said in response to The Botswana Gazette.
“Constitutionally, the President has not broken any law with regard to that. If the BCP is fatigued from selling their uninspiring and lacklustre manifesto, they must find other ways to recharge.
“Their launches are badly attended, and that is what must worry them; not the announcement of the election date. They are not ready for the elections, anyway.”