Kutlo Motseta
30th October 2024
It’s a hot day in one of the most anticipated election days in Botswana’s 58 year democracy, due to epic build caused but by conflict amongst the country’s influential political leaders.
However, judging by the queues at some of the polling stations you would not think so, as on average the officials made up the majority of the people at the polling stations in at least three polling stations in the city center around midday. The turnout appears to have been caused by voters who returned to their home villages to vote and the number of polling of stations in Gaborone.
“[There were] long queues in the morning by noon they had lessened … [at 6am]. The queue went to all along from the gate to the end of the road (200m).” said Kebafitlhetse Goeitsemang who is one of four presiding officers at the Maru-A-Pula community polling station.
Phuduhutswana Phuduhutswana who is a presiding officer at the Oriel International School also made similar comments, “The queue went all the way to the gate in the morning (15m).” There were about three people in the queue at noon.
First time voter Thabang Tshupetso said, “Ke ne ke ithaya go re line ya o nna ntse … go ne jaanong nkare batho baele go tlhopa ko dikgaolong, said Tshupetso, meaning “I thought there was going to be a long line … but looks like people chose to vote at their home villages”.
Voting in urban areas deprives people from choosing their leaders in their home villages and some wished that there was a law that enabled them to vote for their leaders at their home villages because as they were prevented from voting in their home villages due to financial constraints.
“Makaelo e ne ele go tlhopa ke go re jaanong kgang ke madi a transport”, said Tshupetso, meaning, “That was my intention but the problem is transport money”.
As a first-time voter he said he was little nervous but now he is relieved and will certainly get used to the voting process.
Many people expected long queues, “I expected the line to be long … for there to be chaos,” said Kutlo Mpedi. “I was so excited [voting] I felt like a good citizen I felt my vote could my vote could make a difference … I knew the time when voting I would be at school knew I would not have time to vote [so voted here] … I would like there to be a law that enables one to vote at home and in urban areas”
Botswana Movement for Democracy candidate and first-time voter, Mary-Magdelene Nkumba, of Gaborone Central said the voting process went well at Maoka CJSS, but initially the line had moved slowly until someone suggested that the polling agents take 10 cards at a time, locate the page with voter details so that when votes produced their cards, the polling agents were already in possession of the page on which their details appeared. “Whoever came up with that idea saved the day”, exclaimed Tshupetso.
Despite the late stages of her preganancy, Gaulefufa Moangana was determined to vote. “Go botlhokwa, ke ntse ke tlhopa ke tlhopa tsa boraro … Ke ne ke ya go tla e be ke ultwa ke ne ka go hukutseditswe,” meaning, “It’s important to vote its my third time as a voter. If there were long queues, I was going to observe and util the lines were reduced”.
It was a hot day but the voting process went quickly for each voter, though they were suggestions as it how it could have gone faster at all stations. But the feeling of several voters was contentment at casting their vote in this much anticipated election.
