15 Oct 2014

Botswana Red Cross Society (BRCS) has launched an elections initiative called Red Cross Cares, which is aimed at giving health services to voters during the upcoming general elections.

Addressing a media briefing, BRCS disaster management coordinator, Mr Obakeng Sethamo said they saw it fitting to have an input in the general elections by implementing the Red Cross Cares initiative.

The initiative would see them deploy trained personnel and volunteers at selected polling stations in Gaborone, Francistown, Tonota, Tlokweng and Molepolole. He said trained volunteers will be stationed in the north and south regionscovering 20 constituencies and 82 polling stations. 

“Teams of two to four volunteers will man different polling stations and we have accumulated supplies, first aid kits and transport for the initiative,” he added.  Mr Sethamo said he hoped that the initiative would counter incidents where people collapse due to different reasons and that it would also encourage people particularly elders to vote. 

He also noted that they were starting small due to lack of adequate resources and hoped to expand their reach in the 2019 general elections.

The chief elections officer from the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), Mr Dintle Rapoo said the IEC was responsible for the electoral process and had the responsibility to make sure that such a project was attractive to the public. 

He affirmed and confirmed that they found it fitting to embrace the Red Cross Cares initiative because it has the welfare of Batswana at heart.

He noted that it did not interfere with the electoral process but complimented, adding that neither IEC nor Red Cross were anticipating any unrest; but the initiative was done for the welfare of the electorate in and around selected polling stations and counting centres.

BRCS mission is to alleviate human suffering by providing humanitarian services to most vulnerable communities and is controlled by seven fundamental principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntarism, unity, and universality. ENDS