25 Oct 2014

 

The Botswana Police Service Special Support Group (SSG) were called in this morning to calm a disruptive crowd at Kagiso Senior Secondary School where counting for parliamentary votes for the Ramotswa Constituency was in progress.

This was after hundreds of political party supporters some wearing Botswana Congress Party (BCP) t-shirts blocked the school entrance since midnight till this morning.

Among those stranded at the school were election observer and officers as well as media personnel, as the cheering and dancing crowd would not allow anyone to leave.

Senior superintendent Titus Molatlhwa of Botswana Police Service said in an interview that initially the police tried to reason with the crowd to clam down.

However, he said they had to call for a police backup to ensure that peace prevailed during counting.

He said although some in the crowd tried to provoke the police by throwing empty bottles and stones at them they resisted the urge to use force.

Meanwhile, returning officer, Mr Ian Tema, said they could not allow the ccrowd inside the school because there was no space.

He said they police are currently monitoring the situation to ensure that counting progressed well.

The crowd only dispersed just as the SSG about to arrive.

Contesting the Ramotswa parliamentary seat are Mr Samuel Rantuana of the BCP, Mr Odirile Motlhale of BDP and Mr Roger Mphafe of the UDC while Mr Tshekiso Sorinyane is an independent candidate