Ex-miners snub voter registration
Friday, November 16, 2018
This is attributed to disgruntled residents of the town since the BCL Mine closed two years ago. Residents have blatantly stated in various Kgotla meetings that they were not going to register to vote because nobody, including government cared about their welfare.
These statements were more pronounced in the BCL locations where a majority of ex-miners stay. Some have been saying that they see no need to register in Selebi-Phikwe because their lease agreement with BCL on housing will lapse at the end of January thereby will be relocating. Though quite a significant population of ex-mine employees and their dependents have left the town, a sizeable number is still around and occupying the mine’s houses. Still, more are likely to leave as the retrenchment exercise on those who are still on care and maintenance is ongoing this month.
The recent disclosure by the IEC that 2,513 registrations have been turned down due to various irregularities should prompt all Batswana to meticulously review the voters' rolls and address concerns about rejected registrations.The disparities flagged by the IEC are troubling and emphasise the significance of rigorous voter registration processes.Out of the rejected registrations, 29 individuals were disqualified due to non-existent Omang...