30 Jan 2019

 The Independent Electoral Commission’s (IEC) principal elections officer in Kanye, Ms Ndiwo Gaopotlake, has expressed concern about the low number of people who register for the general elections through the supplementary voter registration.

Speaking in an interview, she said few people had come forth to register since the IEC kickstarted the registration on December 17, 2018.

Ms Gaopotlake said Kanye North constituency had recorded 60 voters, Kanye South 118, while Moshupa/Manyana registered 120.

She said they were doing everything in their power to educate Batswana about the significance of registering for elections. 

She encouraged Batswana not only to register but to also vote during the general elections.

In Kanye South constituency, the registration exercise is at the Kanye Administrative Authority in the senior assistant council secretary’s office and the deputy district commissioners’ offices for Moshupa/Manyana and Kanye North respectively.

Ms Gaopotlake, however, noted that they registered substantial numbers during days when members of the community register weddings with the district commissioner.

She said the exercise was running smoothly, safe for a few who came with expired identity cards (Omang) and those who complained that polling stations were far.

She encouraged those whose identity cards had expired to renew them and be eligible to exercise their constitutional right. 

The registration is expected to close on March 31. ENDS