13 Jun 2016

The principal election officer for Lobatse and Good hope/Mabule constituencies, Ms Mavis Mukungu has implored the political liaison committee (PLC) members to revive their constituency committee in order to enhance the integrity of electoral process.

Addressing Good Hope/Mabule PLC members in Good Hope recently, Ms Mukungu said PLC was an important organ in the electoral process since it worked as a mini conflict resolution committee at local level.

“It is at these forums where political parties and Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) will deal with election related complaints appropriately within the confined legal frameworks of the electoral act,” she said.

Ms Mukungu said PLCs promoted transparency in the delivery of regular free and fair elections as they promoted voter confidence and increase voter participation in elections.

She said the platform allowed them the opportunity to train and educate political representatives in order to have informed political leaders.

On other issues she mentioned that, IEC has initiated youth democracy clubs as a way of introducing students to issues of democracy, elections and governance at a tender age.

She said the clubs are formed at junior and senior secondary schools to promote and nurture democracy through the participation of youth in the electoral process.

In addition, she said they conduct voter outreach programmes by reaching all the people around the country to educate them about election process in order for them to have a clear understanding about democracy and for them to safeguard it.

Furthermore, she said they also have introduced youth ambassadors in different constituencies for them to easily lure other youths in their localities and educate them about elections for them to make informed decisions during the voting processes.

Goodhope Police Station Commander, Superintendent Mogomotsi Kwapa implored IEC to send stern cautions against political representatives and any other relevant stakeholders to fully participate in PLC meeting seriously as it served as a platform where they can air their grievances and seek solutions to any hiccups.

He said it was unfortunate to find only public servants in the committee despite all other stakeholders being aware of their membership in the PLC structure.

 He said this will halt PLC progress, as some representatives may end up shifting blames to others that some decisions were taken without being consulted.

Mr Gobapaone Mosetlhi from Lorato Disabled Person Society urged IEC office to ensure that they inform all the PLC members well in time to avoid a situation where representatives from other organisations and political parties do not show up at such kind of meetings.

Meanwhile, Jwaneng principal election officer, Mr Isaac Koogotsitse said they were concerned with electoral offences that persisted on frequent basis despite the enacted laws in the electoral act.

He said some people have the tendency of stealing other people’s voter registration cards which he said is an offence and the culprit will be charged according to the electoral act.

He implored people to keep their cards safely and never hand them to anyone besides an authorised registration officer upon receipt of request without substantial reasons.

He said anyone found in possession of people’s card and for malicious damage,  the culprit will be fined P1 000 or face a term of one month imprisonment. ENDS