15 Jan 2024

The President, Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi, has encouraged Batswana to register to vote in order to fully exercise their right in building a democratically elected government.

President Masisi made the call during a press conference after he and First Lady Neo registered to vote at Mosielele Primary School in Moshupa yesterday.

The move by President Masisi to register also presents him as a potential candidate for the Presidency in the next general elections billed for October.

He said registering to vote in the impending general elections was his civic duty and constitutional right as established by law and qualified by the Electoral Act.

“The time will come where according to law, all who aspire to be Presidents of this country will register themselves as Presidential candidates before the Chief Justice,” he said.

He said every Motswana aged 18 years and over with a valid national identity card was eligible to register in the ongoing general registration process.

Again, he said a person who had registered was granted an opportunity to exercise their right as the law permitted when a poll was called.

On other issues, the President said the voting process was governed by law and therefore all registered persons must abide by it.

“On voting day one must not wear colours of any political party in contest, not carry out any campaign or disrupt, disturb, interfere with the process of voting,” said the President.

He cautioned people against  engaging in any activities that would interfere with those laid down by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) for  a free and fair election.

“IEC is solely mandated to organise and run an election process which includes among others counting and verifying the cast ballots and releasing the results of the poll,” he added.

He further said following dissolution of Parliament, a poll would be held where all registered would freely be allowed to elect a government of their choice.

President Masisi also said time would come where political parties would also have the opportunity to present themselves to the people canvassing for votes.

“It is important for all to submit themselves to the law and by so doing submit forehand that they will accept the outcome of the elections. In the event that one has reason to suspect that something may have gone wrong, there is a well elaborated procedure governed by the law enabling one to challenge an election result,” he said.

President Masisi urged all eligible citizens to take advantage of the short and compressed registration period and register in order to democratically elect a government of their choice.

He said Botswana was celebrated worldwide for nurturing and maintaining the democratic process of choosing a government.

Dr Masisi said the country had the oldest multiparty and stable democracy in Africa and among few in the world.

“I plead that you journalists extend this plea to everyone, yourselves included to go and elect those that you think could run the affairs of this country best. As I have said, at a time appropriate I will be among those who present themselves as candidates for the Presidency so that there is healthy competition. You can judge us by our record, by our integrity, delivery and what you think will work best for this country. You are completely free to make whatever choice you want and live with it. I want to urge you to register and vote at the 13^th elections,” he said.

Furthermore, he said Botswana had a history in terms of consistency in the voting process as well as building and strengthening the ‘fabric of the nation’.  Ends