BCP proposes halting electronic voting

Chakalisa Dube | Wednesday August 3, 2016 16:37

 

The resolution was taken at the party’s annual conference in Shakawe over the weekend.

Yesterday, party spokesperson Dithapelo Keorapetse confirmed that the conference has mandated the central committee to engage government and delay the amendment of the electoral law pending full consultations with political parties as the key stakeholders.

“The central committee of the party will advise itself on how to deal with the issue. Parliamentary and extra-parliamentary strategies such as peaceful protests and litigation will be explored,” said Keorapetse.

Earlier on at the conference, BCP president Dumelang Saleshando said he is deeply worried by the urgency with which the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) led government wants to introduce electronic voting. The Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) has also expressed the same worry as the BCP president. Saleshando said the BDP, which is currently facing greater threats from the opposition, wants to introduce electronic voting in order to manipulate votes in its favour so that it remains in power.

Electronic voting is discredited in some countries because some of the machines used in the process (electronic voting) are prone to manipulation.

As the country prepares to celebrate its 50th independence, Keorapetse said the BCP has resolved to carry out its own assessment of the achievements and failures recorded in pursuit of Vision 2016. The findings, he said will be used to conduct public lectures for the benefit of party members and the general public. “Public lectures seek to inculcate knowledge and empower members of the public with the relevant information they can use to make informed choices in their lives,” said Keorapetse.   According to Keorapetse, the conference also mandated the central committee to appoint additional members to serve in the committee responsible for key tasks not provided for under the constitution.

“Tasks not catered for in the constitution include in part tasks previously performed by secretaries of positions which were phased out by the new constitution,” he highlighted. 

The conference also resolved that the unconditional mandate for the party to negotiate with the UDC be retained. However, the conference urged the central committee to expedite the negotiations.

Among other key resolutions, the conference instructed the party leadership to actively engage the trade unions and foster closer relations in a bid to advance workers interests.