01 Sep 2016

Party Liaison Committee (PLC) members have endorsed the Independent Electoral Commission’s (IEC) proposal to phase out some polling stations and add new ones in Palapye and Lerala/Maunatlala constituencies.

Acting principal elections officer, Mr Oaitse Thipe, informed members during the PLC meeting in Palapye on Tuesday that IEC found it relevant to review polling stations to establish whether it was necessary to add some polling stations or phase out some.

He said the review was made in consultation with various stakeholders in all constituencies and polling districts through different forums in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act of Botswana Chapter 02:09, Section 5, sub-section 2.

Mr Thipe said the IEC secretary assigned 25 IEC outstations to embark on a series of consultations to assist in the review of polling stations in 57 constituencies and 490 polling districts.

He said the activity kick-started with consultations methods ranging from meetings with PLCs, kgotla meetings and workshops and meeting with political representatives.

Mr Thipe said during the review, it was necessary to add some polling stations and to phase out others due to various reasons.

He said in some areas, IEC realised that there were too many tented polling stations and they found it necessary to reduce them and to move to places with permanent structures where possible.

He said even if IEC wanted permanent structures for polling stations, government could not afford to build such structures because elections were conducted in five years and normally done in a day.

He said it would not be wise to spend money on such structures whereas that money should be used for developments hence the move to use already available structures like churches.

He said some polling stations were phased out because some were situated in polling station borders thus were too close to each other resulting in high voters trafficking.

He said some were situated in areas which posed danger to the registration officers, poll staff and voters due to dangerous wild animals and criminals while some were situated where there were no resources or limited resources.

The committee concurred that it was necessary for Pitikwane and Bonwakatlhako polling stations to be phased out because of low voters’ registration.

It was agreed that people residing in those areas should vote in Palapye since they were residents of Palapye.

Mr Dimeko suggested that since Ratsie setlhako polling station was a bit far for some people, another polling station should be established at Palapye Sub Land board premises or Rural Administration Centre.

Ms Gabaresepe Setlhare and Ms Ditshebo Gaborone and other people agreed that it was necessary for some polling stations to be phased out to avoid voters’ confusion and voters trafficking.

Ms Gaborone requested that there should be biding policies that make councillors and members of parliament to frequently give feedback and update of the council and parliament sessions to the community which voted them. ENDS