30 Mar 2017

Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) coordinator, Mr Gabriel Seeletso is yet to consult with Ntlo ya Dikgosi before the eclections registration date is set by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).
Addressing a kgotla meeting in Tlokweng recently, Mr Seeletso said the IEC would, after consutlation with relevant stakeholders, set dates for registration, which they would ensure not to clash with other community or national activities.
He explained that supplementary registration was no longer provided for in the Electoral Act and therefore the IEC had been given the mandate to determine the elections registration dates.
He added that the period for registration would be longer than in the previous election years.
Also, he told the meeting that such a change was a result of the amendment to the Electoral Act, among other changes, which also included introduction of EVM to be used in the 2019 general elections and candidates’ registration fees hike.
He said only Parliament and the court of law had the authority to suspend or repeal implementation of such changes.
“Therefore IEC’s authority lies with the implementation of the law and has no authority to change the law.
The IEC therefore needs to educate Batswana because this is a change of unprecedented dimensions, hence the need for public education,” said Mr Seeletso.
Further, he said since indepenence, Botswana had changed its voting from discs, ballot papers and was now moving to machines.
Meanwhile, some residents expressed their misgivings about the use of the EVM, arguing that they were not consulted.
One Mr Bikie Matlapeng said suspected that Parliament passed laws without scrutinising them.
While some residents talked against the use of the EVM, Mr Molefe Seitshiro on the other hand encoraged fellow tribesman to give the new voting system a try despite lack of consultation.
Mr Seitshiro added that political parties had also been calling for the use of voting machines and therefore electorate should embrace such changes.
Notwithstanding, Mr Seeletso promised residents that all their comments would make part of the report he was yet to compile at the end of his consultative meetings. ENDS