AoJ stakeholder conference postpones withdrawing of EVMs case
Lebogang Mosikare | Monday November 12, 2018 16:04
The AoJ stakeholder conference is among others attended by the Minister of Defence, Justice and Security Shaw Kgathi and the Chief Justice Terence Rannowane.
The case will officially be withdrawn on November 14.
In his maiden State of Nation Address (SONA) President Mokgweetsi Masisi also stated the EVMs were not going to be used in 2019 general elections.
“The procurement of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) was stalled due to the fact that the Electoral (Amendment) Act, 2016, has not been given a commencement date. Furthermore, the Electoral (Amendment) Bill of 2017, which sought to include the use of the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) has not been tabled before Parliament. Additionally the serious threats expressed to our peace, stability, and security were taken into account,” said Masisi.
He added: “Therefore, Government took the responsible decision to suspend the use of EVMs for the 2019 General Elections. This decision was arrived at out of the knowledge that it is much easier to destroy than to rebuild”.
In the case before the courts, the opposition Botswana Congress Party (BCP) argues that EVMs are prone to manipulation and can be hacked in the favour of the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) hence its abhorrence of the gadgets.
The BCP says that all sections of the Electoral (Amendment) Act No. 7 of 2016 which provide for the replacement of voting by Ballot Paper by EVMs be declared unconstitutional and in violation of Section 32 (3) (c) of the Constitution of Botswana be set aside and struck out.
It is also of the view that Section 6 of the Electoral (Amendment) Act No.7 of 2016 which has deleted Section 8 of the Electoral Act thereby abolishing continous and supplementary registration of voters is unconstitutional and violates Section 67 of the Constitution of Botswana be set aside and struck out.
Any action, the BCP argues, done in pursuance or in execution or intended execution of the aforesaid provisions of the Electoral (Amendment) Act No.7 of 2016 be declared unlawful and set aside.