07 Dec 2016

South East councillors have criticised government for not consulting Batswana on amendment of the Electoral Act.

The law, which provides for the introduction of the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM), among others, did not sit well with councillors who questioned the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) why the ongoing consultations with councils were not done before the bill was signed into law.

Deliberating on the issue during the South East full council meeting recently, some councillors expressed concern that such a decision needed a national referendum.

Councillors further commented on the candidates’ deposits and fines, which had been reviewed saying the fees were high.

They also wanted to know how voter transfers were going to be handled.

Some wanted to know whether citizens who resided outside the country were going to vote using machines and if polling agents would still be relevant.

Furthermore, they demanded to know costs associated with procuring the machine since the country was faced with budgetary constraints.

However, some councillors advised the IEC to do everything possible to promote voter registrations since the new electoral act had cancelled supplementary registration.

IEC’s Mr Gabriel Seeletso said the IEC was aware that some sections of the law had been received with mixed feelings, which had led to key players holding different opinions.

He, however, pleaded with councilors to appreciate the fact that the commission was consequent to the bill being assented to and signed into law under obligation and duty bound to implement the law without exceptions and to the best of its ability.

On the issue of the national referendum which had not been done, Mr Seeletso explained that sections that were amended did not need a referendum.

He also told councilors that after every election the commission carried out an evaluation with key stakeholders after which the commission only dealt with administrative issues while other issues raised from the evaluation are passed to the executive hence there was an amendment to the Electoral Act.

Mr Seeletso further clarified that polling agents would still be relevant and that the law provided for voter transfers.

He also said before the machine could be procured, there would be some form of evaluation and it would be budgeted for’ adding that councilors should understand that the electoral process was quite expensive therefore the introduction of electronic voting would cut costs.

Nonetheless, he acknowledged that it was human nature to have doubts and be fearful.

He, however, affirmed to councilors that the commission was going to hold workshops for all stakeholders to appreciate the machine.

Mr Seeletso said all city district and town councils would have been addressed by end of the calendar year and all the 57 constituencies as well as the 490 polling stations would be consulted as well.

Also, a mop exercise he said would follow at a later date to ensure inclusion of all human settlements across the country.

He assured fellow councilors that their outreach plans would continue to be extended to ultimately reach most of Batswana. ENDS