22 Mar 2016

Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), principal elections officer, Ms Mavis Mukungu says her organisation is working round the clock to promote citizen participation in the electoral process through voter outreach programmes.

Speaking during the party liaison committee (PLC) meeting on Monday March 21, she said the purpose of the voter outreach programmes was to increase responsible, informed voting and civic participation across all categories.

She said through the implementation of the programmes the office would not only educate, but also activate and involve youth.

Ms Mukungu also said IEC  intends to visit schools and any other organisation in Lobatse that would need to revive their employees’ knowledge about the elections processes and to increase the youth voter turnout rate.

She noted that the forums would equip children about democracy issues at a tender age so that in future they would be able to hold it up for its sustenance.

She also implored PLC committee members to collaborate to serve their constituency diligently.

She said through their collaboration with the community, they would be able to build a democratic country for the coming years.

One PLC member,  Mr Nathaniel Bathai from Botswana National Front/Umbrella for Democratic Change lauded the IEC for their efforts by including students in the public education process.

He said education on democracy would allow things to run smoothly and at the same time reduce the number of spoiled votes during voting which he said was mostly caused by lack of knowledge.

He also pleaded with the IEC to extend their education programmes to Village Development Committees to teach them about how to conduct their VDC voting processes.

Mr Roy Sekgororoane from the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) said engagement of school going children would be a fruitful move as they would be able to plant the right seed in their minds while still at a tender age.

He said the village leadership should also be engaged so that they could also serve as intermediaries to pass the right information to communities.

Mr Batsile Kgositlou from Botswana Congress Party (BPC) also lauded the efforts implemented by the IEC, and said the efforts would allow the coming generation to make wise decisions during elections to promote democracy.

He also said they would be informed and not easily deceived by politicians. 

Lobatse Brigade Youth Ambassador, Ms Tsholofelo Makgetla also lauded the IEC for their efforts by engaging.

She noted that the youth have been reluctant to pay attention to issues that concern elections, but that through their involvement they would change their mind sets.

She said after their consultation, they were now enlightened on how to go about conducting Student Representative Council (SRC) elections. Ends