30 Jan 2024

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) is hopeful to register most of the targeted 1.3 million voters in the remaining days of the ongoing registration exercise.

The IEC, in its periodic update on Tuesday stated that 451 870 people had registered to vote as of January 26.

IEC Chief Public Relations Officer, Mr Osupile Maroba said in an interview yesterday that  the 1.3 million target, reflected 80 per cent of the eligible voting population.

Mr Maroba said considering the registration patterns and that the registration was approaching its end, the commission would register  at least half of its target. 

Therefore, he appealed to Batswana to register and not anticipate a supplementary registration.He explained that supplementary registration was the prerogative of the Commission and was not guaranteed.

“Looking at the numbers that will have registered at the end of the ongoing process, the Commission might decide that there will be no supplementary,” he said.Mr Maroba said the IEC could still go for the general election with the numbers that would have registered during the ongoing exercise.

He emphasised that it would be better for Batswana to register rather than wait for a supplementary process that they were not assured of and risk missing out on participating in the election process.

However, he said the Commission might decide to have supplementary registration especially to cater for those who would have attained 18 years after the closing of the ongoing registration process.

According to the periodic update, 107 882 people registered during the fourth week, 114 722 during the third week, 141 849 in the second week and 87 417 in the first week.

GoodHope/Mmathethe remained perched at the top of the list with 15 369 registrations, followed by Nkange with 14 575 registrations and Moshupa/Manyana constituency came third with 12 036 registrations.

Other constituencies, which clocked over 10 000 registrations are Gamalete, Palapye, Tswapong South, Bobirwa, Tswapong South and Boteti East.Constituencies with the least registrations are Mogoditshane East and West, Lobatse, Takatokwane, Gaborone Bonnington North, Francistown East, Chobe, Selebi Phikwe East, Mmopane Metsimotlhabe and Charles Hill, all having registered between 3 000 and 5 000 people.

The nationwide general election registration exercise, which started on January 5 will come to an end on Saturday. ENDS