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 The main opposition parties seem to have expected the move they have described as “arrogant”. According to Botswana Peoples’ Party leader, Bernard Balikani, the action has proved their contention that the IEC is not independent. Botswana National Front (BNF) Secretary General, Akanyang Magama described the whole process as flawed. He said that the Judicial Commission elects IEC commissioners from a list provided by the All Party Conference. But since the majority of opposition parties boycott the All Party Conference meeting, the choice of members of the IEC last week was invalid. He chastised diplomats in Botswana for remaining mum over the issue.
Dumelang Saleshando of the Botswana Congress Party said they intend to write a petition to SADC and foreign embassies detailing the unfairness of the upcoming elections and the arrogance of the ruling party. The BCP want to make a point that the elections in Botswana are not as fair as they are said to be.
But the leader of MELS, Themba Joina, said that their decision to attend the All Party Conference and not join the opposition boycott was based on three reasons. “First you can’t separate electing IEC members from taking part in elections. You can’t do one and abstain from the other. Doing so doesn’t show an understanding of the principles involved.” Second, he said their party congress takes place every two years and the next one is in July 2005. In the past congress they were given a mandate to take part in the elections and electing IEC commissioners, hence there was no way they could boycott the meeting without a resolution from the congress. Last, though MELS were involved in the protests that marred the first All Party Congress meeting a few weeks ago, the party believes in continuously engaging the government.
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