IEC involved in election rigging - Boko

 

President of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) Advocate Duma Boko says the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) is always actively involved in election rigging.

According to Boko, the IEC does this by failing to follow the law when handling election processes. He pointed out that the IEC always allows itself to be used by the current regime to rig elections and not follow processes set down in the Electoral Act.

Addressing a UDC Madibela Tlhopho Workshop in Palapye, Boko stated that by refusing people to guard their own votes, it is a clear indication that the IEC is participating in election rigging.

Madibela Tlhopho is a group of UDC members who observe on behalf of the UDC during elections to ensure there is no cheating. The group was formed last year in the wake of many by-elections that were held.

Boko said that history has shown that in most instances the people engaged by the IEC to conduct elections are not the ones whose names have been published in the Government Gazette.

He said a recent case was the one at Lorolwane by-election where the people who conducted the elections were not the ones the IEC had published their names.

“Those brought in to run the elections are mostly Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS) agents. They cannot come to the elections without the knowledge of the IEC.

“Now this calls for a serious guarding of elections and votes. This needs stamina which is why Madibela Tlhopho is an important integral part of the UDC,” Boko said.

He urged Madibela Tlhopho to be relentless in guarding the elections. If needs be, they have to use force if election officers are not doing things by the book.

He said this is why there is need for UDC members to know the Electoral Act. According to the UDC leader, by doing so, the members will be protecting the country’s democracy.

“For that to happen, you do not have to be a coward. You do not have to go into elections with confidence these days thinking that IEC will do things accordingly. You have to guard them closely.

“They have to feel your presence. Madibela Tlhopho was formed by you after what happened in 2019 general elections. In 2024 this is not going to happen,” Boko told the workshop.

According to the UDC leader, anyone who tries to rig elections in 2024 will reap what they sow.

“I do not know what will happen to them but all I know is that it would not be nice,” he said.

He called on Madibela Tlhopho to be organised and work as a unit. Boko, who is also President of Botswana National Front (BNF), said there is also need to have an intelligence committee within Madibela Tlhopho for intelligence gathering.

He said some of the things will have to be secretive so that the enemy would not know all the strategies.

Boko revealed that the UDC National Executive Committee has taken a decision to recognise Madibela Tlhopho and it will be under the presidential office.

He said this is after the NEC recognised the efforts made by Madibela Tlhopho members to form the much-needed platform.

“It is heart-warming to see members without the influence of the leadership coming up with such an initiative. We have to commend you for such spirit. Leadership is not about holding a position.

“We hope that there would not be any sabotage on this noble initiative. Do not be derailed by fighting because there might be those who will want to sabotage this. Unnecessary fights and sabotage shows lack of leadership,” the UDC leader counselled.