Boko condemns election manipulation tactics
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Monday July 28, 2025 10:27
Addressing delegates at the BNF congress, Boko decried the growing trend of registering people solely for voting purposes, only for those individuals to disappear after the elections. “Le kgotelesega party ka bo ntodisa meletswana. Go kwadisa maloko go iwa ditlhophong ga go a siamela party,” he lashed out at those cheating the system of the party. He warned that such conduct not only undermines the party’s integrity but also opens the door to infiltration. Boko argued that the practice is the root cause of ongoing disputes over voters' rolls and delegate lists. On the very day of the BNF elections, Boko, the party electoral board, and members from both contesting factions were forced into a prolonged meeting. The emergency talks aimed to resolve chaos sparked by the emergence of parallel delegates from 14 constituencies. Out of 14, six constituencies were disqualified. The disqualified and barred constituencies were Okavango West and East, Shashe West, Bobirwa, Tati East, and Tati West. Shockingly, Boko revealed that the party is being falsely represented in areas where it doesn’t even exist. “I was shocked to realise that the BNF is said to be present in some areas which, as president, I know it isn’t,” he said. Earlier, Boko had warned that some constituencies might not participate due to irregularities in their delegate selection processes. He used the moment to underscore the urgent need for the party to establish solid and functional structures across the country. However, a leaked electoral board report reads thus: Submission of parallel delegation by Palapye constituency “There were two delegate lists submitted for Palapye constituency. The other list was signed by the constituency chairperson and the secretary, whom we have confirmed with the secretariat as the legitimate office bearers.' However, according to a source, a ruling was made that those who should vote are the ones who would have gone through the proper structure.
Submission of parallel delegates by Selebi-Phikwe East
“We received parallel delegation for the constituency, with each submission portraying on the face of it to have been submitted by the chairperson and Secretary,” the report reads. It was ruled that the delegates did not go through a proper structure, and no minutes were taken to support the election of delegates. The constituency was disqualified on those grounds.
Submission of parallel delegates by Bobirwa
“We received parallel delegation lists from Bobirwa. We enquired with the regional secretary as to which is the rightful structure in Bobirwa constituency. We then contacted the constituency chairperson, who confirmed that they are the rightful structure and their election has not been challenged; as such, they are the structure to submit delegates,” the report reads.
Although a list of delegates submitted by the constituency chairperson and secretary was accepted and those who did not go through them disqualified, the ruling was that the congress meeting was not well announced; therefore, the constituency was disqualified.
Gabane-Mankgodi requests to swap delegates
“The national election board (NEB) received a request from Gabane-Mankgodi constituency committee seeking to replace delegates who can not make it to the congress for various reasons. The NEB considered the request and resolved that the delegates' selection process was done at ward level by the ward general membership meeting, as such any decision to substitute or replace a delegate must be a decision of the Ward General Membership Meeting as stipulated by Regulation 3.1 of the Regulations for Elections of All Central Committees,” the report said. However, the NEB therefore rejected the constituency Committee's request, but the ruling was overturned.
Complaint about suspected irregularity relating to selection of delegates in Mogoditshane West
The board resolved that the concerned group would, once the voters' roll was issued, inspect and, if dissatisfied, they would lodge an appeal specifying the grounds thereof, since their initial complaint was not specific about the names that are said to have been submitted in contravention of the regulations. However, the matter got resolved, and they never submitted a complaint.
Appeal regarding selection of delegates in Naledi North and Selemela ward
Regarding Naledi North, the party resolved to dismiss the complaint as it was apparent that the author of the complaint, who is also the chairperson, attended the ward general membership meeting and even opened with a prayer and thereafter, left the meeting when it was in process. It was noted that the chairperson left and did not collapse the meeting; as such, the delegates were properly selected in line with the regulations.
As for the Selemela ward, the appellants are not residents or members of the said wards and, as such, did not have the standing to challenge processes that occur in other wards at which they are not entitled to be invited. 'We have not received any complaint from Selemela Ward.' The appeal was thus ruled to be without merit.