01 Aug 2024

Members of Parliament have been urged to wait for All Party Conference, which is expected to be held soon, to deal with the proposed amendment to the Electoral Act.

Vice President Slumber Tsogwane, who is the Leader of the House and also Boteti West MP, made the call when contributing to the debate on the Electoral Amendment Bill on Wednesday.

Mr Tsogwane argued that previous amendments to the Electoral Act, such as the reduction in mandatory voting age and the provision to allow Batswana in the diaspora to vote were a result of the All Party Conference recommendations.

“Even the current proposals to have both parliamentary and council ballots counted at the polling districts should await the recommendations of the same forum. We have been told that the issue would be considered by the All Party Conference before the end of this coming months, so let us give it a chance to deal with the matter,” he suggested.

He also said reasons for fear of cheating at elections, which seemed as the essence of the Bill, had never been proved and should be treated as just rumours.

Okavango legislator, Mr Kenny Kapinga argued that the amendment was motivated by the pleas from Batswana to have counting of ballots done at polling stations.

“Conceding to the amendment would only be answering their request and will therefore assure them of the credibility of the electoral process. This Bill calls for an electoral reform, and electoral reforms are a basis for free and credible elections,” Mr Kapinga said.

He added that suggestions of counting ballots at a designated polling district would be a stop-measure while all was being readied for counting at polling stations.

Tonota MP, Mr Pono Moatlhodi was against the proposed amendment arguing that elections in the country had always been conducted expeditiously and lawfully since the first polls.

“Initially, all ballots, including those of councillors were transported to a central place, and voting age has since been reduced, so this request will also be addressed with time like all these others,” Mr Moatlhodi said.

He said it was only responsible to transport ballots to a central place where they would be accounted for.

Francistown South legislator, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi said it was surprising that the ruling party was not supporting the Bill while the proposed amendment was done in neighbouring countries such as South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Lesotho.

“This refusal to support the Bill degrades democracy and contrary to arguments that parties could use their seals before transportation, there is no guarantee that those seals cannot be tempered with,” Mr Mmolotsi said.

He said the Bill was a simple plea that would also give credibility to the ruling party, adding ‘by agreeing to the Bill, nobody has anything to lose, but all to gain.’

Good Hope/Mabule MP, Mr Eric Molale said the current process of tallying and reconciling of ballots had always authenticated the electoral process.

Gaborone Central legislator, Mr Tumisang Mangwegape-Healy said Botswana continued to be a yardstick for credible elections.

“The reason why the opposition has been losing elections is because of lack of trust on them by Batswana, and has nothing to do with lack of integrity of elections,” he said.

Jwaneng/Mabutsane MP, Mr Mephato Reatile said it was illogical to suggest that Parliament should await the resolution of the All Party Conference before it could make any amendments on the Electoral Act.

“Procedurally, a Bill has to be gazetted for at least 30 days before it can be debated in Parliament, but the 12th Parliament is reaching its lifespan at the end of this month, which means that we will never have time for the Bill should we wait for the All Party Conference resolutions,” he said.

Mr Reatile also said it was surprising that the ruling party was refusing to implement what all the parties were practicing at their primary elections.

Tlokweng MP, Mr Thulagano Segokgo said he still believed that there was no rigging of elections in Botswana.

He also supported the suggestion to wait for the All Party Conference so that the Electoral Act would be amended holistically. Ends