24 Jul 2014

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) secretary says members of the Botswana Police are responsible for maintaining order during the process of the elections.

Therefore, Mr Gabriel Seeletso said IEC treats them with high regard. 

He was speaking during a stakeholder meeting hosted by Bobonong IEC office held for party candidates, police officers and returning officers in Bobonong recently.

He said IEC work with Botswana Police but not with other security organs such as Botswana Defence Force (BDF) and Directorate of Intelligence Security Services (DISS) to ensure that election process was safe.

Mr Seeletso said the Electoral Act clearly stipulates that any persons misconducting themselves at polling stations and failing to obey any lawful order may be removed by a police officer or any other person authorised by the presiding officer.

The IEC secretary said such authorised officer might be a police officer on plain clothes who might have been assigned by the superiors to be on duty on that eventful day.

He said whether wearing uniform or not police officers still carry the same responsibilities and act where possible to maintain law and order.

The IEC secretary was responding to allegations made by Botswana Congress Party (BCP) publicity secretary Mr Taolo Lucas that some police officers were suspicious especially those not wearing police uniform.

Mr Lucas said some especially those that describe themselves as DISS agents were arrogant and that IEC should be clear which officers should be allowed at polling stations.

Mr Lucas also a parliamentary candidate for Bobonong constituency also alleged that some returning officers were obsessed and abuses the responsibility given to them by IEC and terrorise candidates.

He said he wondered why IEC relegate all its responsibilities and duties to returning officers during election process. 

Mr Lucas has also expressed concern that IEC updates were conflicting each other and alleged that even the IEC staff has acknowledged the discrepancy.

But Mr Seeletso said IEC with a staff compliment of 170 was incapacitated to run elections arguing that the commission needed 26 000 staff to run and handle elections.

“I do not have hesitation that we are not doing a good job, but the returning officers that we engage were doing a sterling job,” he said.

He urged all stakeholders to work together to ensure that candidates and the IEC staff conduct elections that was faultless.

Mr Seeletso called all parties to engage in a thorough consultation and meet a mutual understanding to avoid unnecessary conflicts.

Also he indicated that there were no discrepancies about the IEC updates on the number of people registered to vote indicating that 824 073 people have registered to take part in this year’s general elections.

The IEC secretary said updates during registrations were conducted weekly which might have caused confusion to some and that the 824 073 was the exact and official number of people registered.

Mr Seeletso also took the opportunity to remind political parties about the code conduct which they are signatory to in 14 February 2009.

He said they had agreed to present a desirable behavior during campaigns without having to intimidate on another in any form, but expressed concern that there was still character assassination and abusive language used at political rallies by the speakers. ENDS