The opposition coalition UDC had lodged complaints over the supplementary registration announced by the IEC, which is scheduled from January 17 to March 31, 2022. The UDC argued that the process was unlawful and ultra vires the Electoral Act, and as such, should be withdrawn. In a letter of demand written to the IEC recently, UDC attorney Nelson Ramaotwana said they hold instructions to take legal action to review the electoral body’s decision and have it set aside by the courts.
In a series of accusations, the UDC also said the IEC intentions are contrary to the Electoral Act’s intentions of guarding against ill-will. It is said the IEC secretary ceded all her functions in relation to the running of the 2019 general election to the Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS), whose agents also impersonated registration officers. Moreover, Ramaotwana said by imposing an arbitrary time period on a process, which the controlling legislation, being the Act, does not impose, any time to, is improper, unlawful and grossly irregular. However, on Friday the IEC wrote to the UDC in response to the substance of the UDC demand letter as well as some of the averments therein.
