Tsogwane, BDP MPs defend IEC, Zim benchmarking

Spira Tlhankane | Monday February 19, 2024 06:00

Zimbabwe’s disputed elections in August last year were widely viewed as fraudulent. But in a shocking turn of events this week, the IEC was in the neighbouring country supposedly learn about the management of electoral activities and the conduct of elections from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC). Botswana will hold its General Election in October this year. Various political parties have since condemned the IEC’s decision to travel to Zimbabwe to learn from an institution that does not uphold democratic electoral standards.

When the hot topic reached Parliament this week through the Serowe South Member of Parliament (MP) Leepetswe Lesedi, Tsogwane said he had in the past ordered MPs not to speak ill of Zimbabwe because it is a ‘sovereign state’. He said Zimbabwe is a neighbouring country therefore legislators should not use malice when they comment about it. “Just like other countries, some observers may have said what they said about Zimbabwe elections but we cannot come here and castigate Zimbabwe. There was an issue of Omang and you spoke ill of Zimbabwe and some of you here have relatives in Zimbabwe. If you have nothing good to say about Zimbabwe then just keep quiet,” Tsogwane told MPs. F Tsogwane was responding to Lesedi who had commented that the IEC’s 'benchmarking' in Zimbabwe shows that the 2024 General Election is already rotten. “Zimbabwean elections have been declared as fraudulent so what is the meaning of this,” he said.

Rising in the IEC’s defence MP for Molepolole South, Kabo Morwaeng, said if Lesedi wanted to comment about the IEC he should have followed proper channels and directed a question to the responsible minister. Morwaeng said Lesedi should not base his comments on rumours. The Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Pono Moatlhodi, said Standing Order 57.6 is clear that MPs should not talk ill about organisations like the IEC in Parliament because the latter are not around to defend themselves. In response, Francistown West MP Ignatius Moswaane clarified that Parliament law does not prevent any MP from discussing any government organisation. “It is acceptable to talk about both the good and bad of the IEC, what we cannot do is talk about its leader,” he further emphasised.

Also commenting on the issue, Boteti East MP, Sethomo Lelatisitswe, said Botswana has relations with neighbouring countries therefore MPs should not disapprove every time a delegation is sent to another country to benchmark. He said no one should point that out as a bad thing because countries have to keep good diplomatic relations. In a statement, the IEC acknowledged that it was in Zimbabwe but only for the sole purpose of looking at ZEC’s accreditation machine for election observers, which has been hailed as the best. However, Zimbabwean state broadcaster, ZBC News, on Tuesday reported that the visiting IEC delegation will focus on management of electoral activities and the conduct of elections. ZEC will also illustrated publicity activities such as its radio programmes, use of social media platforms and website as well as rebranding initiatives to the visitors.

The visit, according to ZEC, is an "endorsement of professionalism exhibited by ZEC in the August 2023 general elections. Despite aspersions cast by some election observers on Zimbabwe’s elections, the visits are an endorsement of professionalism characteristic of ZEC’s electoral management especially in the conduct of credible elections,” ZEC spokesperson, Utloile Silaigwana was quoted by the Zimbabwean broadcaster. In October, a month and half after the disputed Zimababwe elections, the Southern African Development Community (SADC)’s final report showed that the election has glaring irregularities. The SADC Electoral Observation Mission (SEOM) led by Zambia’s former vice president, Dr Nevers Mumba noted that the polls fell short of minimum standards set forth in the SADC Principles and Guidelines for Democratic Elections.

In summary, the report noted that there were irregularities in the delimitation of constituencies, delays in releasing the voters roll resulting in missed opportunities to conduct an audit, restrictions in the freedom of assembly and expression emanating from draconian legislation like the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act (MOPA) and the Patriot Act, which criminalise anyone who criticises “Zimbabwe’s sovereignty.” The report also showed that there were restrictive nomination fees that limit participation, like the unprecedented $20, 000 fee for presidential nominees, evidence of lack of judicial independence, and biased coverage by the state media among others. Furthermore, the reports also indicated that in opposition strongholds, ballot papers arrived nearly 12 hours late with voting extended by 24 hours while others simply gave up amid the delays.