08 May 2022

Batswana have been urged to activity participate in the ongoing secondary supplementary registration which commenced May 3 and will run until July 2022. 

 President Mokgweetsi Masisi made the plea when officiating at Boitekanelo College’s 15th Anniversary celebrations on Saturday. 

“Our country’s democracy only thrives through the citizenry’s participation in the voting process, therefore if you are a citizen of this country and you are 18 years or above with a valid national identity card, please go to the nearest Independent Electoral Commission office and register to vote, weather you have a political party affiliation or nonpartisan is immaterial,” President Masisi said. 

He added it was the right and constitutional duty of every eligible Motswana to actively participate in the voting process. 

Dr Masisi said only those registered to vote, would be permitted to exercise their constitutional right of voting for their preferred political candidate should there be a by-election in the near future. 

“Hopefully by the time of the by-election or even the next general election, one would have an idea of what values, leadership, policies or manifesto to vote for, and those candidates who are vying for the votes will present themselves before the voters,” he said. 

He thus expressed optimism that the voters would have it within themselves to analyse honestly and objectively so as to make an informed decision on the right candidate to vote for. 

 President Masisi reminded voters to be mindful of the power that they possessed in choosing the rightful candidate adding that opting not to vote was a clear contribution to the decline of the country’s economic performance and the nation’s political standing. 

 “The next election will be for young people and by young people, with many political parties manifestos directed to address issues pertaining to the youth. I therefore, beseech the youth who make up close to 60 per cent of the country’s population to register to vote,” he said. 

Meanwhile a press release by the Independent Electoral Commission says the purpose of the supplementary voters registration is to update the 2019 general elections roll in order to give new applicants an opportunity in any electoral activity such as a by-election and referendum where applicable. Ends