* Voting population for 2024 General Election projected at 1.7 million * IEC set target of 80 percent, 1.3 million * Nkange constituency registers the highest numbers in first week
The national registration for this year’s general election, which began last Friday, encountered several challenges on its inaugural day.
These issues signal the potential to undermine the credibility of the registration process and consequently, the country's democratic integrity.
The anticipated voting population for the 2024 general election, as projected by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), is 1.7 million.
The Commission has set an ambitious target of 80 percent, approximately 1.3 million, which would mark the highest turnout in Botswana's history. In comparison, the 2019 elections saw around 900 000 participants.
Despite some challenges, a total of 75 547 people registered nationwide during the initial two-day period, that is, Friday and Saturday. Notably, Nkange emerged as the surprise leader with 2 939 registered voters, while Takotokwane recorded the lowest at 200.
Nkange's achievement breaks the trend seen in past general elections where leading constituencies during the first week were typically places like Ramotswa, Bobonong, and Tswapong, with others catching up in the second week.
Botswana Guardian team visited various Gaborone constituencies and gazetted registration stations, and discovered several issues that require urgent attention. For instance, some registration clerks had to improvise due to stolen equipment.
Such glitches led to some registration clerks pulling out on the last hour, in some areas tents pitched as registration stations were vandalised and petty thieves stole the tents poles. This resulted in some registration clerks using the bonnets of their vehicles to assist clients who had honoured the invitation.
In some of the stations, challenges included registration clerks either arriving late or not showing up at all, a matter which left only one clerk being left to man the station, a matter that forced the IEC to engage the reserve. As a result of this, some stations ultimately had three officers instead of two.
IEC's Chief Public Relations Officer Osupile Maroba affirmed in an interview with Botswana Guardian that despite challenges, 75 547 people across the country, had registered during the initial two days, with expectations of increasing numbers in the days ahead.
Maroba said they avoided potential disruptions due to alleged threats from schools wanting registration clerks to vacate classrooms. "We were hit by anxiety towards the opening of school on Tuesday as there were threats that some schools had said that they want registration clerks to vacate their schools, as they will need to use their respective classrooms for lessons effective Tuesday."
However, IEC did not leave anything to chance as the IEC Secretary held an impromptu meeting with the Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education and they had to inform all Directors and School heads about what needed to be done when a school is gazetted to undertake a national activity.
The duo took proactive measures, reminding education officials of the importance of national activities and ensuring necessary accommodation for the registration clerks.
While some clerks opted out at the last minute, causing challenges in staffing, IEC addressed this by bringing in additional personnel for training and deployment to registration stations under strict supervision.
Maroba highlighted challenges of human resources and facilities, including issues with promised ablution facilities. Despite these hurdles, he remains optimistic about the registration figures, emphasising the importance of people registering at their preferred locations to avoid later appeals for transfers.
IEC has also expressed delight that Batswana in the Diaspora, including students, expatriates, and business professionals, have actively participated in registering for the upcoming general election. Registration in places where Botswana has High Commissions is reported to be progressing smoothly without major issues.
These issues signal the potential to undermine the credibility of the registration process and consequently, the country's democratic integrity.
The anticipated voting population for the 2024 general election, as projected by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), is 1.7 million.
The Commission has set an ambitious target of 80 percent, approximately 1.3 million, which would mark the highest turnout in Botswana's history. In comparison, the 2019 elections saw around 900 000 participants.
Despite some challenges, a total of 75 547 people registered nationwide during the initial two-day period, that is, Friday and Saturday. Notably, Nkange emerged as the surprise leader with 2 939 registered voters, while Takotokwane recorded the lowest at 200.
Nkange's achievement breaks the trend seen in past general elections where leading constituencies during the first week were typically places like Ramotswa, Bobonong, and Tswapong, with others catching up in the second week.
Botswana Guardian team visited various Gaborone constituencies and gazetted registration stations, and discovered several issues that require urgent attention. For instance, some registration clerks had to improvise due to stolen equipment.
Such glitches led to some registration clerks pulling out on the last hour, in some areas tents pitched as registration stations were vandalised and petty thieves stole the tents poles. This resulted in some registration clerks using the bonnets of their vehicles to assist clients who had honoured the invitation.
In some of the stations, challenges included registration clerks either arriving late or not showing up at all, a matter which left only one clerk being left to man the station, a matter that forced the IEC to engage the reserve. As a result of this, some stations ultimately had three officers instead of two.
IEC's Chief Public Relations Officer Osupile Maroba affirmed in an interview with Botswana Guardian that despite challenges, 75 547 people across the country, had registered during the initial two days, with expectations of increasing numbers in the days ahead.
Maroba said they avoided potential disruptions due to alleged threats from schools wanting registration clerks to vacate classrooms. "We were hit by anxiety towards the opening of school on Tuesday as there were threats that some schools had said that they want registration clerks to vacate their schools, as they will need to use their respective classrooms for lessons effective Tuesday."
However, IEC did not leave anything to chance as the IEC Secretary held an impromptu meeting with the Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education and they had to inform all Directors and School heads about what needed to be done when a school is gazetted to undertake a national activity.
The duo took proactive measures, reminding education officials of the importance of national activities and ensuring necessary accommodation for the registration clerks.
While some clerks opted out at the last minute, causing challenges in staffing, IEC addressed this by bringing in additional personnel for training and deployment to registration stations under strict supervision.
Maroba highlighted challenges of human resources and facilities, including issues with promised ablution facilities. Despite these hurdles, he remains optimistic about the registration figures, emphasising the importance of people registering at their preferred locations to avoid later appeals for transfers.
IEC has also expressed delight that Batswana in the Diaspora, including students, expatriates, and business professionals, have actively participated in registering for the upcoming general election. Registration in places where Botswana has High Commissions is reported to be progressing smoothly without major issues.
