Survey finds Batswana don�t trust EVMs
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Wednesday November 1, 2017 18:00
The country has been using a manual voting system for years. The survey also found that the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) did not consulted the public sufficiently.
The findings of the survey show that only a slim majority (52%) of Batswana trust IEC ‘somewhat’ or ‘a lot’ and show a proportional decline of 18% in points over the last decade.
It says more than 69% say the IEC did not consult adequately with the public whether EVMs) should be used.
The survey said the 2019 elections are widely seen as an important test for the opposition, which has been gaining strength under its Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) coalition.
“Despite declining popular trust, more than two-thirds (68%) of respondents say the IEC should have the power to determine national/local election dates.
Eight in 10 Batswana (81%) say Members of Parliament (MPs) who leave their political party should have to vacate their seat in Parliament,” the Afro Barometer states.
It further says a majority of Batswana say opposition parties offer a viable alternative vision and plan to the long time ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP).
The dissatisfaction with the IEC’s reasons is particularly strong amongst respondents with a post-secondary education (70%).
It says urban residents (59%) are more likely to express dissatisfaction than semi-urban (55%) or rural (48%) residents, and men (57%) are more often dissatisfied than women (49%) while age groups differ only marginally in their views on this issue.
“When analysed by respondents’ voting intentions in a hypothetical National Assembly election, dissatisfaction with the IEC’s reasons for introducing electronic voting is highest amongst supporters of the Botswana Movement for Democracy (78%), the Botswana National Front (77%), and the UDC+ (70%), and lowest amongst BDP adherents (42%),” survey says.
It says an overwhelming majority, 81%, of Batswana want MPs who join other political parties to vacate their parliamentary seats to pave way for new elections in their area.
“This attitude varies little by education level or gender, but is somewhat more common in rural areas (83% vs 74% among urban residents) and among middle-aged respondents,” the survey says.
The survey further suggests more that a majority of Batswana call for state funding of parties based on electoral performance and 64% of men say that the state should fund political parties compared with 62% of women.
The survey suggests state funding of parties does not differ by location as 62% rural and semi-urban dwellers agree with 63% dwellers.