28th September 2024
Sello Motseta
The red colours of the ruling Botswana Democratic Party(BDP) dominated the precinct of the city centre as the President’s of the competing parties at the upcoming general elections arrived to submit their names for approval before the Chief Justice Terence Rannowane today.
Not to be totally outdone, the lime of the Botswana Congress Party(BCP) also converged in numbers.
“I will be receiving nominations of persons for election into the office of the President, between 10:00 hours to 13:00 hours and between 1400 hours to 1700 hours today. This process is stipulated at section 5(1) of the Presidential Elections Act,” said Terence Rannowane, Botswana Chief Justice in official welcome remarks art the Gaborone High Court.
In accordance with this Act, every candidate must be nominated by a proposer and seconder who must be registered as voters for purposes of elections to the National Assembly.
In addition, the candidates must be supported by nine hundred and ninety-eight (998) people who must be registered voters. The supporters must have duly completed support papers which will be presented before me for verification.
“I will announce the name of every candidate that has reached the threshold as stated, once verification for that particular candidate has been duly completed. This will be followed by a formal communication to all nominated candidate confirming the results of the verification process,” said Rannowane.
The Chief Justice appealed to parties to heed culture as Batswana and go through these proceedings peacefully and harmoniously and to avoid unnecessary disruptions.
Rannowane said, “Let us be reminded that this is part of our democratic calendar of events leading to general elections and must be accorded the necessary respect and decorum.”
The meet was a special court session convened for such purpose and all the protocols, etiquette and decorum accorded to normal court sessions will mutatis mutandis apply today. This is to ensure that the nomination process is conducted seamlessly, harmoniously and expeditiously.
Party officials were quick to offer reasons why their respective parties were likely to win.
“The elections are not about making noise. It is a process that requires organization and if there is an organized party it is the BCP,” said a buoyant reverend Prince Dibeela, President of the Botswana labour Party and a coalition, member of the merged Botswana Congress Party(BCP).
He said, “You will not see us in court like the BDP. You do not see us in a situation where you have 2 candidates in one constituency like the UDC. In Boseja ward the UDC has 2 candidates. The same in Block 8. This is not a sign of readiness for elections.”
Dibeela observed that the BCP was the first to have its manifesto ready and launch its candidates.
“We have now nominated our President and we had more than 1,300 niminations. If they had wanted 2000 names we would have delivered,” stressed Dibeela.
There was no chanting of party slogans or any political party related activities allowed inside the courtroom and within court premises. There will be no hoisting of placards or any gesture that indicate party affiliations inside the courtroom.
The opposition Botswana Patriotic Party(BPF) whose patron former President Lieutenant General Seretse Khama Ian Khama has allegedly returned permanently from a self-imposed exile is expected to boost their fortunes in the central district where he is regarded with a lot of reverence and respect.
“We are happy with the preparations for the upcoming general elections. We want to get to 31 constituencies,” said Carter Morupisi, Chairperson of the opposition Botswana Patriotic Front(BPF).
He said, “Khama is very popular amongst Batswana and he will definitely help us.”
Ruling party officials remained upbeat over their prospects despite the furore over the Goodhope-Mmathethe constituency where it took a hard line against former Health Minister Edwin Dikoloti after he had won party primary elections.
Firebrand political activist Lotty Manyapetsa reminded this publication that Khama campaigned for the opposition in the 2019 elections and it had no bearing on result.
“I believe we are ready for elections. The primary elections were a little late. Our cadres came out in numbers to support our President. The issue of Dikoloti is not a big issue. It is not a good thing at the eleventh hour but we need to move on,” said Manyapetsa.
He said, “In 2019 Khama was there and we won/. We will win again with Khama. He has I fluence in central district but we are big party and we have supporters all over the country.”
