Politicians 'gatecrash' elections' evaluation workshop

BAME PIET
Staff Writer | Friday March 19, 2010 00:00

None of these parties were represented during the presentations as they questioned the rationale of holding such a workshop without their input.

Deputy leader of Botswana National Front (BNF), Olebile Gaborone argued that political parties should not have been left out as they are the main stakeholders in elections with experience they can share with the public. He wondered why non- governmental organisations were also not featured in the programme, while the IEC of South Africa talked about issues not relevant to Botswana.

Leader of Marx Engel Lenin and Stalin (MELS) Movement Botswana, Themba Joina said the ruling party was not being fair as it was making the playing field unbearable for other political parties.

Dr Kesitegile Gobotswang of Botswana Congress Party (BCP) also expressed concern at the manner in which the workshop was structured. Secretary General of the IEC, Gabriel Seeletso tried to appease the politicians by telling them that they had been slotted in the group discussions.

The objective of the workshop was to make an assessment of the IEC performance during the 2009 general elections, to evaluate the preparation and completion of elections as well as to assess the adequacy of a legal framework that guides operations of IEC, among others.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the IEC Justice Monametsi Gaongalelwe expressed satisfaction at the performance of IEC in the past three general elections.

He said that the country's democracy was in the safe hands of the IEC but encouraged criticism if need be. The Minister of Presidential Affairs and Public Administration Lesego Motsumi officiated at the workshop.