Study vindicates opposition on EVMs
Chakalisa Dube | Thursday November 2, 2017 11:25
The EVMs might be used at the 2019 general elections should the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) fail in its court bid to stop the government from introducing the machines.
The BCP is questioning certain legalities of using the machines. Researchers across the world have also opined that the machines are prone to hacking and can be used to manipulate election results. A legislation to introduce the use of EVMs was rubberstamped by the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) legislators last year in Parliament. The government, through the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), has reasoned that it is introducing EVMs in order to speed up the voting process.
On the other hand the opposition has said that instead of using EVMs, the government should explore other ways of speeding up the election process like hiring more personnel.
According to the recent study by Afrobarometer, more than half (53%) of respondents (who participated in the study) say they are not satisfied with the reasons advanced by the IEC in favour of using EVMs in 2019. More than two-thirds (69%) of the respondents in the study said that the IEC did not consult adequately with the public on whether EVMs should be used.
The jittery opposition has always maintained that the ruling BDP has predicted that it may lose power in 2019 and now it wants to hack the machines in its favour in order to win the elections.
“We have always made it clear that the introduction of EVMs is just a process meant to ensure that the BDP, which is under threat from opposition stays in power beyond 2019 general elections. Now that there is a study that echoes our sentiments we feel vindicated.” “The fact that majority of people do not buy into the use of EVMs means that should the BDP government go on and introduce the machines, they will be going against the ideals of democracy,” UDC spokesperson, Moeti Mohwasa said yesterday. Mohwasa said the study highlights that majority of Batswana were not consulted on the use of the EVMs shows that the BDP-led government does not respect the ideals of democracy.
Political analysts have also often called on the government to abort plans to use the voting machines, citing most of the reasons cited by opposition parties. Yesterday, BDP deputy secretary general, Shaw Kgathi maintained that enough consultation was done by IEC. “EVM is a product of consultation by the IEC. Post-election consultation by the IEC showed that there is need for EVMs. Opposition MPs also wanted EVMs so I do not understand why they want to shun the use of the machines now.
It is there on record that opposition MPs wanted the machines.” Kgathi also questioned the credibility of a study by Afrobarometer. “I cannot dwell much on the study because it is hard to tell if the fraction of people who participated in the study is a true representation of the over two million people we have in Botswana.” The fact that the use of the machines was endorsed by Parliament shows that there was enough consultation. “MPs represent the views of their people and they consult before the vote in support of certain legislations in Parliament.”