After filing an urgent application with the High Court seeking an interdict and a declaratory order against the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) observers will access polling stations when the registration period begins tomorrow, the court has ordered.
This is just a temporary decision that can become permanent if the IEC doesn’t object on November 7, 2023 when the two parties return to court. Francistown High court’s Justice Gaolapelwe Ketlogetswe today issued a rule nisi calling the respondent being the IEC and other interested parties to show cause on November 7, 2023 why the UDC registration clerks should be interdicted and restrained from monitoring the national elections registration process scheduled to start tomorrow.
“The respondent is directed and ordered to allow the applicant to observe and monitor the national elections registration exercise including having applicant’s agents recording the names and national identity card numbers of the people registering to vote and recording the serial numbers of the people registering to vote and recording the serial numbers of the registration booklets for each and every registration day at the opening and closing thereof,” Ketlogetswe further ordered. IEC will pay the costs of the application.
