16 Dec 2021

A total of 23 237 Batswana, who registered for the 2019 general elections, are expected to cast their votes during council bye-elections billed for Saturday.

The bye elections for 11 council wards countrywide, which fell vacant following the demise of councillors during the State of Public Emergency, will be held under strict COVID-19 health protocols.

As per statutes governing the state of public emergency, all laws and subsidiary laws were suspended and as such the Electoral Act together with the Local Government Act, which serve as a tool to announce vacancies of MPs and councillors, were consequently affected.

The 11 wards are Nkange North, Tamasane, Boseja South, Ga-Molopo, Lentsweletau West, Tumasera-Seleka, Motokwe-Tsetseng, Moshupa East, Lorolwane, Metsimotlhabe and Khwee.

In an interview with BOPA, Chief Elections Officer, Ms Motlapele Raleru said polling stations would open at 0600hrs and close at 1900hrs.

However voters who would already be in queues within polling stations after 1900hrs would be allowed to vote.

She said only Batswana, with valid Omang identity and 2019 elections registration cards would be allowed to vote, stressing that they will not accept a drivers’ license, receipt for prove of Omang registration or passport as an identification because the law states that ‘only a valid national identity card is required for voting’.

Ms Raleru stated that those who misplaced their registration cards would be assisted at the affected district election offices countrywide until Friday.

She said there would be a queue walker to ensure compliance, such as proper wearing of masks, sanitising and social distancing, adding that those without masks would not be allowed to enter polling station.

Ms Raleru further revealed the Alliance for Progressives (AP), Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD), Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) and Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) had all fielded candidates. There were five independent candidates, he said. Ends