BCP vows to stop Khama

The President of Botswana Congress Party (BCP), Dumelang Saleshando says they are going to petition President Ian Khama not to sign the recently passed controversial bill on electronic voting.

Members of Parliament were last Thursday night locked in a heated argument until Friday morning as Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) MPs wanted to pass a bevy of bills among them the electronic voting bill, three percent salary increase for MPs and another abolishing the traditional supplementary registration.

But opposition MPs cried foul that the bills should not be passed because there was no proper consultation. Addressing a press conference this week, Saleshando said they are shocked at the manner in which the bill was passed. “In the past all the issues that concern elections were taken at all party conference so that political parties could have an input. But what is currently done by the government is disappointing,” said BCP leader.

He said before the bill was brought to Parliament there was never any consultation with their party to make an input on it. Three weeks ago, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) invited media and representatives of political parties to view the controversial Electronic Voting Machines that are intended to be used in 2019 general election.

“Election is not a small matter and the nation needs to be engaged every time there is something that deals with elections. We are skeptical about these voting machines because in India they’ve brought so many court cases,” said Saleshando, adding that the integrity of the election process in the country will be in doubt once the machines are used.

He said if President Khama signs the bill they will be left with no option but to engage their party attorneys to challenge it at the courts of law or lobby the civil society to demonstrate against the bill. “The BDP cannot be allowed to be the referee and a player at the same time,” he said.

On the abolition of the supplementary registration in the amendment of the Electoral Act, Saleshando said the government is intending to reduce the number of voters. “The law should encourage people to vote not what the government is planning to do. There should be a permanent voters’ roll,” he said. The amendment also increases the fees payable by candidates vying for council elections from P100 to P1000 and P5000 from P500 for parliament aspirants.