IEC welcomes elections audit
Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Friday July 31, 2020 14:23
The Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF), which contested the general elections for the first time last year, had written to the IEC requesting it to conduct an independent audit of the 2019 General Elections after several petitions were launched by main opposition Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC).
The election petitions were later dismissed with costs at the High Court.
However, when appearing before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Wednesday, Serumula said although there is no provision for elections audit in the law, the process would be a welcome development. Serumula who took over from former IEC Secretary Keireng Zuze recently, told the Committee that even though the law does not provide for an audit, it does not prohibit it either. “There is no harm in conducting an election audit, but there is no provision of elections audit in the Act. But nothing prohibits it either. It will be a welcome development and won’t be of any harm,” Serumula said.
After all, Serumula said an audit would also enhance IEC’s credibility, which is very important.
She also suggested that they should be a national stakeholders review of elections after every elections to see how best the processes could be improved.
When the chairperson of the PAC, also Member of Parliament for Selebi-Phikwe West, Dithapelo Keorapetse asked if the high number of petitions in the 2019 elections did not worry her, Serumula was evasive but indicated that it was provided for in the Act that anyone who is aggrieved should go to Court.
Meanwhile, Serumula said a Bill that meant to enhance the Commission’s independence was drafted in 2007, but has stalled after it was submitted to Office of the President.
“Its true Cabinet approved the Bill in 2007. However, it stalled but was resuscitated. We are awaiting OP. The delay is beyond us,” she said. She stated that the objectives of the Bill are to kill the perception that the Commission is not independent, allow the IEC to appoint its staff and give it a corporate status among other things. As it is, IEC personnel is employed by Directorate of Public Service Management (DPSM) while its Chief Public Relations Officer is seconded from OP. IEC Secretary is appointed by the State President.