Madibela Tlhopho, angels or hooligans?
Mompati Tlhankane | Monday July 17, 2023 06:00
“Yo o tla lekang go tsietsa mo ditlhophong o tshwanentse a kgorelediwe; ha ele gore o nna mongala go dirisiwe dikgoka tse di lekaneng go mo kgwabohatsa le go mo itsa go dira tsietso (Whoever tries to steal elections should be impeded, if they are obstinate we should use the same force to tame or thwart their cheating actions),” UDC president Boko told a group of UDC members last month ahead of the Mmaphula by-election in Palapye where the opposition coalition hosted the National Madibela Tlhopho workshop.
Madibela Tlhopho is not new. Boko, who is the overseer of the group, has previously mentioned them in passing. But it was only this year that the group was conferred official in the UDC. Boko has always remained adamant in his belief that the 2019 general election was rigged by the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP).
In January 2020 the Court of Appeal (CoA) dismissed with costs 14 UDC election petitions. The petitions were dismissed citing lack of jurisdiction. The UDC had petitioned the court and contested the outcome of the elections citing “irregularities in some of the constituencies”. Before the CoA judgment, the petitions were dismissed by the High Court a day before Christmas Day in 2019.
In Palapye where Madibela Tlhopho were drilled for the first time ever last month, Boko emphasised that Madibela Tlhopho should be brave and not be wobbly cowards who are easily intimidated and threatened.
He said Madibela Tlhopho should not think that the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) is independent therefore they should keep them close for thorough scrutiny. “Madibela Tlhopho verify and can even search a police car to make sure that the law is followed,” he indicated.
This past weekend, Madibela Tlhopho was in full swing as they searched every car and person entering the election venue in Serowe.
Boko told the group that the biggest task besides campaigning for elections is to protect votes.
He said that is why they took time to bring experts who will teach Madibela Tlhopho everything about elections. “It is a group that was formed because there was a need to protect votes, especially after what happened in the 2019 election when the BDP stole elections. It was the last time they stole elections. In 2024 it will never happen again,” he highlighted.
He warned would-be election fraudsters adding that the latter could lose their lives because what they are doing is disrespecting and trampling on people’s lives.
The former Bonnington North legislator said polling officers who appear during elections at the last minute are mostly there to cheat. “Your responsibility as Madibela Tlhopho is to prevent criminal activity in elections. This role needs strength and anyone who tries to steal elections should be impeded at any cost,” Boko told the group.
Boko stressed that it is necessary for Madibela Tlhopho to use force when someone attempts to rig elections. “When you do that you will be protecting the Constitution of Botswana itself and promoting democracy,’ said Boko.
Boko pointed out that Madibela Tlhopho is genuine because it was formed by like-minded people without the involvement of any leader.
He said they have seen how brave Madibela Tlhopho is during previous by-elections because they stand up to protect their votes. Boko further cautioned that in the 2024 General Election, Madibela Tlhopho will not be playing around and whoever tries to rig elections will suffer the repercussions. Moreover, Boko said the Madibela Tlhopho job is big therefore they need organised and disciplined people. Boko disclosed that Madibela Tlhopho also includes intelligence experts who will detect ulterior moves from a mile away.
“Some say we are an opposition party but we have grown beyond that stage and it looks like those who are supposed to be the ruling party are now opposing us. We are the government in waiting,” Boko told UDC members in Palapye.
He said it was important for Madibela Tlhopho to be conversant with the election processes for them to diligently perform the role of protecting the electoral system. “We should have deep knowledge about elections from rules to clauses of the Electoral Act. We have to know these things because the biggest fraud in elections is done by the IEC. We have to speak publicly and make it known that the cheaters in elections are the IEC and they do that by not following procedures that are clearly set in the law. They allow themselves to be used to bypass the system,” he said. Boko further accused the IEC of denying voters the opportunity to scrutinise whether or not elections were run properly.
Boko said it is important for people who represent the UDC as observers to know and verify everything from polling officers to matters of electoral management. “If you understand these things, there is no one who can cheat in any election. You will be there to uphold the law because you would have been taught and trained,” he highlighted.
Following the police encounter with Madibela Tlhopho this past weekend, No.2 District Officer Commanding, Senior Superintendent Paul Oketsang told this publication that it was shocking that the police were accused of intimidating people when they were only doing their work as assigned by the Returning Officer for the elections.
“We were informed that a certain group, which identified itself as Madibela Tlhopho, had made their intentions known during a planning meeting with the IEC that they intended to cause disruptions at polling stations. We had to act accordingly and prepare ourselves for the situation at hand and those people who were not even supposed to be near polling stations caused problems,” he said.
Asked to stipulate exactly what Madibela Tlhopho’s role is in any election, UDC spokesperson Moeti Mohwasa said: “Madibela Tlhopho as the name suggests are people who are focused on spreading the message of respect for the electoral law.” Mohwasa was quick to indicate that he was not aware that the police over the weekend painted Madibela Tlhopho as a group of hooligans and disorderly people who try to defy the Electoral Act and cause disruptions at polling stations. Mohwasa revealed that it is the criminality that arose from the 2019 General Election that has spurred Madibela Tlhopho into action. “Free and fair elections should be the priority of everyone. Even others who are not UDC members have a moral obligation to protect their votes. One would expect everyone to embrace this initiative which seeks to ensure that the results reflect the will of the people.
We hear so much noise even from some media houses about what transpired in Serowe. Surely Madibela Tlhapoho should have disrupted some people’s plans and they are hurt, angry and frustrated,” he said.
Mohwasa emphasised that Madibela Tlhopho is a group of law-abiding people and there is no incidence of hooliganism on their part. He said the UDC has not informed the IEC as a stakeholder about Madibela Tlhopho.
Mohwasa emphasised that people should expect observance of the law and protection of their votes from Madibela Tlhopho.
“This initiative should be embraced. What is all this farce about really? It is clear that some sections of the media have decided to jump on to the Madibela Tlhopho bashing crusade. The hope of those leading this crusade is to demonise them.
The challenge that this country faces is how to thwart rigging. We wish those who criticise Madibela Tlhopho could take time to look into the history of electoral rigging in this country. There are issues like why counting cannot be done at Polling Stations. We all know that the BDP does not embrace this proposal because it is during the movement of boxes from polling stations to counting centres that swapping takes place. Mohwasa said it is unfortunate that those who fight fraud and criminality are now being labelled and their actions being criminalised. He said the question of hooliganism is being created by those who are interested in tarnishing their image. “They know that Madibela Tlhopho is an impediment to their shenanigans. That’s why they hate them.”