17 Sep 2019

The country’s political environment is abuzz with activity as the countdown to the general election set for October 23 gains momentum.

On August 30, the President, Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi and the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development issued Writs of Election and Election Instruments respectively, which ordered the holding of the general election to fill the 57 National Assembly vacancies and 490 Local Government vacancies.

The public can only wait in anticipation for the nomination of candidates for the Office of the President, which will be held on September 21.  

The nomination will be handed to the returning officer at the High Court in Gaborone between 10am and 1:00pm, or between 2 and 5pm. 

The parliamentary and council nominations will follow on September 26.

In terms of Presidential Elections (Supplementary Provisions) Act Cap. 01:01, the nomination of candidates for the Office of the President shall take place on the first Saturday following the expiry of 20 days after the dissolution of the National Assembly. 

This follows the dissolution of Parliament, which took place on August 28.

In an interview, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) principal public relations officer, Mr Osupile Maroba said a presidential candidate should have a total of 1 000 persons registered as voters comprising a proposer, a seconder and 998 supporters.

The Presidential Elections (Supplementary Provisions) Act, Cap. 02:01 states that those persons supporting the nominee should be in the voters roll and validly registered as voters for the purpose of elections to the National Assembly.

For the parliamentary and council nominations, he said nominations would be received between 9:00am and 1:00pm and from 2:30pm to 5:00pm on the nomination day.

According to the Electoral Act, parliamentary and council candidate nominations should be held after five days, but not more than 10 days after presidential nominations.

MPs and councillors nominations should be supported by nine people who include a proposer, a seconder, and seven supporters.

Councillors pay a nomination fee of P100 and MPs pay P500 at revenue offices in the districts or may bring cash to nomination centres as there will be revenue officers present.

Those supporting nominations should be in voters’ roll of ‘their’ polling district or constituency with validly registered names. 

Following nominations, Mr Maroba said IEC would compile symbols of candidates and print ballot papers.

Mr Maroba further indicated that IEC was steadfast in preparing for the election, adding that IEC had completed stakeholder consultation and general voter education with prospective candidates and party agents.

He also said recruitment of poll staff had been completed while training would follow suit and was expected to be completed on the first week of October. ends