14 Mar 2023

As Gaborone readies for the Bosele ward byelection scheduled for March 25, the public has been cautioned against unruly behaviour at polling stations.

   The warning was sounded by Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) secretary Mr Jefferson Siamisang during a  meeting with party agents and poll staff in Gaborone Monday.

  He stated that in previous  byelections, some political candidates were problematic and consequently disrupted the process. Mr Siamisang warned his audience that there were  repercussions for not obeying the law.

“I implore political organisations to behave in accordance with the rules of the electoral commission and take part in activities that build good governance as we all have a responsibility to make this country a better place for posterity,” he said.

Mr Siamisang said that included conducting oneself in a respectable manner, free of hate speech and offensive behaviour at polling stations. “Let us be an example to other countries especially as we gear up for the national elections next year,” he said. Mr Siamisang informed his audience that the IEC was mandated to manage the electoral process as well as to provide civic and voter education to nurture and sustain the democratic dispensation.

“This is critical to increase participation and transparency in the electoral process,” he said.

    The IEC boss explained that both the election staff and party agents should be guided by the established legal framework.

   In governance, he said, every stakeholder had a duty to build, nurture and strengthen a sound democratic society. 

 “This engagement is meant to familiarise as well as debunk any myths the public might have concerning key electoral processes,” he said.

One of the attendees, Mr Isaac Moseki thanked IEC for hosting the engagement and called for similar events in other parts of the country to sensitise more people on the electoral processes including the code of conduct.

“More awareness should also be made in various social media platforms,” Mr Moseki said. ends