BCP Enlists International Experts In EVM Case
Chakalisa Dube | Monday February 5, 2018 11:45
This was confirmed by the party president Dumelang Saleshando in an interview a day after he briefed party members about the status of the case in Palapye during a leadership forum.
Saleshando pleaded with the party members to make monetary contributions to fund the case in which the party has taken the government to court over the intended use of the controversial voting machine in the upcoming general elections.
“We have assembled a team of experts for our EVM case. They are giving us technical advise with regards to the use of the EVM. Their expertise will inevitably boost our arguments in court. One of them will directly appear in court at some stage to help us convince the court rule in our favour,” Saleshando said.
Although Saleshando refused to reveal the origins of the technical experts insiders have indicated that they are from India. Technology experts in India have proven that the voting machines are prone to hacking.
Saleshando also refused to divulge the amount of money that is required by the experts or the whole amount for the case. He said the information is confidential.
“What I can say at this stage is that the experts will cost a lot of money directly and indirectly. Apart from them (experts) helping us prepare arguments for the case the party will pay for all costs associated with bringing one of them to the country. That is why we are pleading with party members to assist us with funds for the case.”
The government wants to introduce the use of EVM at the 2019 general elections while the BCP and other opposition parties are strongly opposing the move. The opponents have argued that the machines are prone to hacking. The BCP is also questioning some legalities surrounding the use of the machines.
Most Batswana have also opposed the use of EVM machines during consultations with the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) officials. Meanwhile the BCP leader also told The Monitor that the party would hold its primaries from May to June this year.
“In the past primaries only BCP card carrying members who had registered for the general elections were eligible to take part.
We have scrapped such provision because the primaries will come before the registration of voters for the general elections. All BCP card carrying members will be eligible to vote at this year’s primaries,” he said.
Saleshando also said that the party members have made some proposals for the amendment of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) constitution. The UDC is a coalition of opposition parties and will be going for a constitutional congress later this month.
“We have asked the members to refine their proposed constitutional changes. They will submit them to the party secretariat ahead of the congress,” he said.