03 Oct 2019

 Permanent secretary in the Ministry of International Affairs and Cooperation, Mr Gaeimelwe Goitsemang, has underscored Botswana’s commitment to key regional and continental frameworks that promote election observation.

He was briefing foreign envoys stationed in Gaborone on preparations for  the October 23 general election.

Mr Goitsemang said the country looked forward to participation of election observer groups.

“In the spirit of consolidating democracy, Botswana and as per standard practice whenever national elections are held, Botswana has invited international election observers from African Union, SADC and the Commonwealth,” he said.

In this regard, he said the revised guidelines, which promoted election observation such as the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections and AU Declaration on the Principles Governing Democratic Elections in Africa would be used.

Mr Goitsemang also said in accordance with the Electoral Act, the electorate in diaspora would vote on October 12.

Meanwhile, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) secretary, Ms Keireng Zuze, said IEC was ready to hold elections and material had already been procured.

She said the total budget for election facilitation was P197 million and that 21 900 poll staff had been trained to conduct elections at the 2 260 polling stations across the country and the 36 polling stations in the diaspora.

Ms Zuze said advance voting for poll staff would be held on October 19.

She said presidential nominations were successfully carried out on September 21 and that four political parties would have candidates.

She also said nominations for council and parliamentary candidates had been completed.

She said IEC had also registered 246 independent candidates for council and 27 for Parliament.

Ms Zuze said completion of nominations paved way for printing of ballot papers.

On other issues, she said IEC had modified polling booths to be shorter and wider in order to accommodate the wheelchair bound and for election officers to be able to view what was taking place to discourage voters from using cell phones in booths.

She also briefed envoys that IEC was guided by the Electoral Act which she said provided procedures of electoral phases which include establishment of polling station and districts, nomination processes and polling processes including results.

She said the Electoral Act highlighted electoral illegal procedures while the Local Government Act was used to specify qualifications for local government candidature and prescribes when to conduct local government elections prior to general election.

She said the Referendum Act was used as and when there was need to conduct referendum.

The envoys briefing was organised by IEC and Ministry of International Affairs and Cooperation to brief envoys about preparations for the general election. ENDS