Court of Appeal ends UDC petition case with dismissal

Duma Boko leaving court with UDC members PIC. THALEFANG CHARLES
Duma Boko leaving court with UDC members PIC. THALEFANG CHARLES

The Court of Appeal (CoA) this week dismissed with costs the Umbrella for Democratic Change's (UDC) 14 election petitions.  The petitions Botswana leading opposition party, came from parliamentary candidates including that of UDC leader, Duma Boko, whose case was dismissed with costs citing lack of jurisdiction. 

The CoA ruling has cemented President Mokgweetsi Masisi’s rule until 2024 when the next general elections will be held. Botswana held its general election on October 23, 2019 with the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) winning by a majority of 38 seats against UDC’s 15.

The UDC petitioned the court and contested the outcome of the elections citing “irregularities in some of the constituencies”.  The BDP has ruled Botswana since independence from Britain in 1966.

Editor's Comment
Human rights are sacred

It highlights the need to protect rights such as access to clean water, education, healthcare and freedom of expression.President Duma Boko, rightly honours past interventions from securing a dignified burial for Gaoberekwe Pitseng in the CKGR to promoting linguistic inclusion. Yet, they also expose a critical truth, that a nation cannot sustainably protect its people through ad hoc acts of compassion alone.It is time for both government and the...

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