IEC, UDC case: A possible game changer :: Mmegi Online

The ongoing legal altercation between the coalition Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) and the body that supervises the polls, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), might provide a requisite test to the credibility and independence of the latter. Mmegi Staffer RYDER GABATHUSE observes

From some quarters, Botswana’s elections have been hailed as free and not necessarily fair. To many, the elections registration case is indeed a clash of principles as the UDC claims to have experience from the 2019 General Election, which they allege prompted them to closely guard the General Election processes commencing with the registration exercise.

Led by Advocate Duma Boko, the UDC, a coalition of parties that include the Botswana National Front (BNF), the Botswana Peoples Party (BPP), the Alliance for Progressives (AP) and the Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF), have vowed to leave no stone unturned in their endeavour to fight what it calls systematic ‘rigging’ of the national polls.

Already have an active account? Log in here.

Or Sign up and get unlimited access to premium articles.