09 Mar 2014

Minister of Defence, Justice and Security Mr Dikgakgamatso Seretse says Botswana Defence Force (BDF) is an apolitical organisation therefore canvassing votes from disciplined forces in military bases is a political activity.

Answering a question in Parliament, Mr Seretse said members of the BDF were not allowed to actively participate in politics. He, therefore, said entering military bases to canvass votes from disciplined forces was putting members of the BDF at risk because the entire BDF barracks was a protected area as such political activities were not allowed.

Minister Seretse said BDF members were allowed to register to vote during elections but that was done in polling stations outside the barracks as no polling station could be established within the BDF camp.

He said political parties must be sensitive of any form of polarising the military bases, adding that they should keep them apolitical. Mr Seretse said however that there where situations where political meetings could be held within the barracks but permission had to be sought.

He said none of the ministers could go and address members of the BDF except the minister whom the BDF fell under his/her portfolio. He said that ministers too could not go to the barracks and engage the BDF into politics.

Mr Seretse was answering a question asked by MP for Kanye North, Mr Kentse Rammidi who wanted to know whether it what was wrong for politicians to canvass for votes from disciplined forces. Ends