The researchers from Open Society Initiative in Southern Africa (OSISA), the Open Society Foundation’s Africa Regional Office (AfRO) and the Electoral Commissions Forum of the Southern African Development Community (ECF- SADC) found that among other things, legislation was limited in addressing independence of the Independent Electoral Commissions. This anomaly shows serious implications for the independence and operational efficiency and effectiveness of electoral commissions of the region.
In Botswana, Professor Emmanuel Botlhale and Dr Onalenna Selolwane carried out the study and found that the IEC foremost challenge is the lack of an enabling legislation in the form of an IEC Act. The study says it is desirable that there be a specific law that defines the IEC, specifically, what its independence means. “It is notable that from the inception of the IEC, the commission clamoured for the promulgation of the act; 18 years later this is yet to be done. However, the absence of a legal framework in the form of the IEC act does not derogate from the IEC’s ability and capability to run free, fair and credible elections,” the report on Botswana reads.
