IEC budget aligns strategic commitments with NDP 12, BETP
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Monday March 23, 2026 06:00
When presenting the proposal before the committee of supply, Mohwasa explained that the financial requests are intended to support the operations and strategic programmes of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC). Furthermore, he noted that the commission’s proposals for the 2026/2027 financial year are aligned with the country’s development priorities.
In particular, he said they are guided by the objectives of the 12th National Development Plan as well as the Botswana Economic Transformation Programme (BETP), which aim to promote sustainable economic growth and institutional efficiency. Consequently, Mohwasa emphasised that the proposed allocations will enable the IEC to effectively carry out its constitutional mandate while also supporting national development goals.
This comes at an opportune time when the Commission is finalising its Five-Year Strategic Plan, focusing on planning for the next five years of the Electoral Cycle, following the successful delivery of the general elections in 2024.
“The IEC has to align its strategic commitments with the approved NDP 12 and BETP, and undertake reforms to enhance citizen participation in the electoral process, as well as deliver on its overall constitutional mandate,” he said. “This is important because as an Election Management Body, the IEC operates within ever-changing ecological realities characterised by shifting stakeholders’ expectations, and requiring continuous improvement,” he added.
He said the IEC has successfully designed and installed a new Elections Management System. Furthermore, he said the old system had become obsolete with time.
“This is the system the Commission uses to manage huge electoral data. The new system has more capacity, as well as improved security and workflow features. The IEC has also completed migration of data from the old system to the new system,” Mohwasa said.
He, however, said that as part of preparations for the general elections for 2029, and at the same time addressing some of the issues raised by stakeholders during the evaluation of the 2024 General Elections, the IEC has just opened an office at Lerala, using the offices of the Department of Broadcasting and Information Services there.
He said other places targeted for the opening of IEC offices include Sefhare and Mabutsane. “Sefhare would be opened by the end of April 2026, whilst Mabutsane would also be opened by the end of June 2026, both after completion of procurement processes relating to office space and other requirements,” he said.
Thereafter, he said the focus will be on Thamaga and Shoshong to decongest IEC offices at Mogoditshane and Mahalapye, respectively. “The two would be opened by the end of December 2026. Now, what the IEC is doing is commendable and very much in sync with their strategy of bringing electoral services closer to communities. We hope that this would improve voters’ participation rate in electoral processes,” he revealed.
As voter supplementary registration, Mohwasa said a total of 949 voters registered during this period, with 755 registering from January 12th to February 13th, 2026, while 194 registered from the 18th February to the 3rd March, 2026. “I urge Batswana to always take advantage of these openings to register as voters because it is both their constitutional right and a civic responsibility,” he said.
He said challenges encountered during the reporting period included a shortage of office and staff residential accommodation, which remained unresolved.
“However, the IEC’s purpose-built head office will be constructed during the 2026/2027 financial year. This will come as a package with some residential houses for the staff. Although this will be a drop in the ocean, it would assist greatly,” he said.