The full responsibility lies with voters � SADC

Bame Piet | Tuesday October 14, 2014 08:00

 

At the launch of the SADC Election Observer Mission (SEOM) at Boipuso Hall, Tax said: “The election process must allow the people to freely and peacefully choose their leaders, and assure the voters and those voted for.  Accept the people’s voices.”

 “We encourage the people of the Republic of Botswana to continue to demonstrate political maturity and responsibility by respecting democratic principles and practices,” she added.

 Tax said that SADC member states have entrenched democratic values and practices with firm commitment to enhancing democracy and democratic institutions in the region. 

 She said that prior to the deployment of SEOM, the SADC Electoral Advisory Council (SEAC) undertook an assessment mission to Botswana, from September 17 to 20, 2014, in order to ascertain the level of preparedness and readiness of the country to hold the forthcoming general elections. “Indeed the outcome of the Report of SEAC Goodwill and Pre-deployment Assessment Mission concluded that the political atmosphere and security environment are conducive for holding peaceful elections; and in respect to preparedness and readiness, the electoral management and administration bodies have undertaken the necessary provisions and preparations for holding the 2014 general elections,” Tax said.

She assured her audience that SEOM will share information with other observer missions deployed in the country, as well as consult with all stakeholders involved in the process. 

“This will enable us to stay abreast of the entire electoral process and ensure that we remain seized with the electoral environment and momentum,” she said. 

The SEOM will be based at Boipuso Hall and will share its preliminary findings on October 26. Meanwhile, the chairperson of the mission, South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Maite Nkoana Mashabane, said that observer missions have become a norm and part of the SADC calendar. She added that this has led to peaceful transitions of power in the region, as witnessed by the recent handing over of such by the Guebuza in Mozambique. She said that this has also promoted robust contest and campaigns for elections, and Botswana is no exception, but has maintained credible elections.

 “We trust that the elections on October 24 will continue to build on this proud tradition.  Our regional body recognises that in a democracy, elections are part of a process, rather than being an end itself,” she said.

 Furthermore, she said that elections in the SADC (Southern African Development Community) region are guided by common principles of full participation of citizens in their political process.  Also freedom of association, political tolerance, equal opportunity for all, that is to access the means of communication are key, Mashabane said. She added that equal opportunity is there for all to exercise the right to vote and to be voted for, independence of the judiciary and impartiality of the electoral institutions, voter education.  She emphasised that there should be acceptance and respect of the electoral results that were declared free and fair in accordance of the laws of the land. 

The observers will be deployed across the country, and will also assess whether the polling stations were accessible and placed in neutral places for all to vote.

This year’s contest for the presidency is between the Botswana Democratic Party led by President Ian Khama, Umbrella for Democratic Change led by Duma Boko, and Botswana Congress Party led by Dumelang Saleshando.