22 Jul 2014

Independent Electoral Commission spokesperson Mr Osupile Maroba says the commission is swamped by an unprecedented record of applications for vote transfers.

During a meeting with general elections prospective candidates, prospective returning officers and police officers in Kanye last week, Mr Maroba said such transfers have reached heightening proportions and that the numbers continue to rise daily.

“The numbers are phenomenal. The reasons advanced to justify the transfers of most cases suggest voter trafficking,” he said adding the development was not good for democracy.


He said upon investigations, the commission has established that many people transfer their votes due to pressure from prospective candidates who solicit their votes.


Mr Maroba therefore appealed to candidates and political parties to desist from encouraging ill-informed transfers.


On other issues Mr Maroba expressed concern that the 823, 306 potential voters that have registered for the general elections due this year only represents 58.8 per cent of eligible voters. 


The development, he noted calls for intensified education on voters about the important role elections play in development.


Meanwhile, Mr Maroba said candidates  are expecetd to subscribe and adhere to the elections code of conduct throughout the electoral process.


He said, for instance, candidates should not in any way intimidate others and that motorcades should not pass through other parties’ rallies.


“Refrain from utilizing Public Address Systems, either fixed or mobile between 9 at night and 5 am as this constitutes public nuisance.”


Also Mr Maroba called on parties to ensure that media workers are not harassed, intimidated, threatened or assaulted by party officials or supporters.

Media, he said is a crucial vehicle in disseminating partisan politics programmes and propaganda hence need to be treated with due care and appreciation.


Commenting, one of the participants, Mr Ketumile Kaboeamodimo felt the clause that allows vehicles etched with party symbols and colours into polling stations was a concern as it has the potential to incite untoward behavior that could easily disrupt the peaceful conduct of elections. 


Mr Kaboeamodimo blamed delimitation exercise  for increasing applications for transfer of votes saying it divides people with common interest especially relatives thereby forcing people to transfer their votes to areas where representatives of their choice stand.


Another participant, Mr Patrick Ralotsia echoed Mr Kaboeamodimo’s words saying delimitation should take into consideration people with common interest lest transfer of votes continue unabated.


Mr Prince Dibeela, also a participant, blamed the commission for having ended its supplementary registration early thereby leaving out many people who have turned 18 years after May 18, 2014.


Addressing the concerns Mr Maroba said delimitation cannot be blamed for transfer of votes because it was done to create manageable polling districts and not to divide people with common interest as suggested by some people.


He said also ferrying of voters using vehicles with party colours should not be problematic because those manning the polling stations will be there to ensure that such vehicles leave immediately.


On supplementary registration, Mr Maroba told participants that there was nothing the commission could do because there was a lot work to be done prior to the finalization of the voters roll such as correction of names in the roll. ENDS