27 Jul 2014

Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) Secretary, Mr Gabriel Seeletso has urged prospective candidates to be credible leaders.

Addressing prospective candidates and returning officers for Palapye and Lerala/Maunatlala constituencies in Palapye on July 25, Mr Seeletso said candidates were selling themselves as prospective leaders of tomorrow as such should prove to the nation that they were worth their vote.

Mr Seeletso appealed to all those involved in the election process to demonstrate political maturity and commitment to democratic ideals.

He said for them to achieve that, they should start by changing their behaviour and show respect for one another despite their political affiliation. He implored them to have a clean campaign and avoid character assassination.

He implored them to read and internalise the Electoral Act and uphold to the IEC Code of Conduct, which he said had been signed by majority of duly registered political parties. “I encourage you to read and understand the Electoral Act so that we go to the polls singing from the same hymn book,” he said.

Mr Seeletso further said political parties and those standing as independent parties were expected to subscribe and adhere to this code of conduct.

The code of conduct, among others, did not permit intimidation in any form and stressed that motorcades should strictly not pass through other parties’ rallies.

It also stressed that speakers at political rallies should not use abusive language or language which might incite violence in any form against any other person or group of persons.

Party members and supporters would refrain from disrupting other parties’ rallies, meeting, matches, motorcades or demonstrations. Mr Seeletso further informed candidates that they were prospective candidates until nomination was done.

He said there was a possibility for some of the prospective candidates to be rejected after the nomination exercise, as a result the names of candidates will be confirmed after nomination. Furthermore, Mr Seeletso touched on challenges that the commission was experiencing particularly transfer of voters.

He said the rate at which voters applied for transfers of their registrations was worrisome as a result he appealed to candidates and political parties to desist from encouraging ill-informed transfers.

He also encouraged prospective candidates to get all voters to vote on the polling day, adding “while the IEC admits that it has a role to play in achieving this, the bulk of the effort must come from political parties and candidates.”

For his part, principal elections officer, Mr Lebonetse Maifala said after dissolution of Parliament, IEC will await the issuance of writs of elections by the President and Election instruments by the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development in terms of section 34 of the Electoral Act.

He said the documents were official directions to the IEC to prepare for elections and set dates on which nominations shall be received and when any polls that might become necessary shall be held.

Meanwhile, Palapye Administration Authority senior assistant council secretary, Mr Koti Molefi urged leaders who will make it in the upcoming elections to be close to their electorates. He said leaders should be close and understand the people they were leading.

Mr Molefi encouraged prospective returning officers and candidates to act responsibly on polling day. ENDS