After the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) president, Duma Boko last week revealed that they will engage registration clerks to observe the upcoming voters’ registration, the party this morning filed an urgent application with the High Court seeking an interdict and a declaratory order against the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).
UDC wants their observers to access polling stations throughout the registration period which will run from tomorrow until November 31, 2023. UDC revealed in a press statement that they took the legal route following IEC’s refusal to allow them to deploy observers during the registration period.
“In the papers we seek to interdict the IEC from obstructing, denying or preventing our registration observers access to polling stations throughout the registration period,” read the statement.
The UDC also indicated that the Advocate who was to appear on behalf of the UDC could not make it due to other engagements, therefore, Boko who is also an advocate of the High Court of Botswana will now form part of the coalition's legal team.
“This has necessitated the postponement of the participation of the president in the "A re Ikwadiseng Tour" until further notice. The affected areas being Hukuntsi, Gantsi and Maun will be covered before the end of the registration period”. The urgent application against the IEC is expected to be heard later today.
