Presidential candidates to make their plans known
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Monday September 23, 2024 12:04
Even though there is no direct election of president in the country, this marks yet another pivotal moment as Batswana prepare to choose their leader. “The public is informed that in terms of the Presidential elections (supplementary provisions) Act Cap.02.01 the nominations of candidates for the office of President shall take place on the first Saturday following the expiry of 20 days after the dissolution of the National Assembly. The President dissolved the National Assembly on September 5, 2024, between the hours of 10 o’clock in the morning and 1 0’clock in the afternoon, or between 2 o’clock and 5o’clock in the afternoon,” read a recent press release from Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) on presidential nominations. The press release also advices all those who are interested to comply with the legal requirements for the nominations of presidential candidates as set out in the presidential elections (supplementary provisions) Act, Cap.02:01.
To qualify for the presidency, candidates must adhere to specific procedures, ensuring they meet all the necessary requirements. In the form of nomination presidential elections (supplementary provisions) act Section 5 states that every candidate shall be nominated by a proposer and a seconder (who shall be regarded as supporters for the purposes of Section 32 of the Constitution) being persons who are registered as voters for the purposes of elections to the National Assembly. It furthers indicates that the nomination shall be made on a nomination paper in the form prescribed in the first schedule. “A nomination paper shall not be valid unless it is signed by the candidate, his proposer and seconder or marked by them with their marks and contains in accordance with the requirements noted on the form the following particulars- the full name and address of the candidate, his constituency, the polling station at which he is registered and his number on the election roll; the name, address and constituency of both the proposer and the seconder, and the polling station at which they are registered and their number on the Election Roll; a statement by the candidate that he is willing and qualified to stand for election,” further read the section.
The Act also adds that in addition to his proposer and seconder every candidate shall be supported by not less than 998 supporters being persons who are registered as voters for the purpose of elections to the National Assembly. “Every supporter shall complete a support paper in the form set out in the Second Schedule. No person shall sign a support paper in favour of more than one candidate or more than one paper in favour of the same candidate. No person shall present a support paper for authentication other than a support paper in which he is named as the supporter”, says the Act. Since independence, Botswana has remained under the leadership of the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), which has ruled for 58 years. If the BDP emerges victorious once again, President Mokgweetsi Masisi will continue in office. Interestingly, only a handful of parties engage in this rigorous process, motivated by the hope of victory, while others appear indifferent. Additionally, some parties recognize their limitations, knowing they lack candidates to contest in more than 31 or even 10 constituencies, leading them to question the value of participating in the elections at all. Some parties that typically seek presidential nominations or believe they can take over the government include the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) led by Dumelang Saleshando, the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) led by Duma Boko and Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) led by Mephato Reatile.
However, it remains to be seen whether the Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) led by Thuso Tiego and the Botswana Republic Party (BRP) led by Biggie Butale will seek nomination.