UDC raises over P300 000 for petitions legal bill
The elections left us in debt, we are broke - Dr. Molutsi
Umbrella for Democratic Change ( UDC) has managed to raise over P300 000 towards legal fees for election petitions.
UDC is currently racing against time to raise P565 000 to cover legal costs for the Court of Appeal suit they lost when challenging the 2019 elections outcome which the coalition claims were rigged.
The UDC is still expecting another legal bill from Botswana Democratic Party and Independent Electoral Commission ( IEC) lawyers for the High Court petitions.
This week UDC Treasurer General Dennis Alexander revealed that they managed to raise P329 505.98 towards the Appeals Court legal bill.
He explained that before the end of this week the money will be disbursed. Alexander said the leadership of the UDC still calls on members of the public and well- wishers to assist in raising the remaining over P200 000 before the 9th April 2021 deadline when other properties of the petitioners will be auctioned.
“So far there were two motor vehicles which were auctioned recently. However, one of the vehicles was not sold and it would be re- auctioned.
“We have a balance of over P225 000 remaining in the P565 000 bill. We are asking for public assistance. The intention is to have the balance cleared before end of this month,” Alexander told the media when giving an update on what his committee has been doing regarding fund raising.
According to Alexander the funds have been held in the UDC account. He said the National Executive Committee ( NEC) has since resolved that the 57 constituencies should also raise funds towards the legal bills.
He said each constituency is to raise P10 000 and this should be coordinated by committees of all the contracting partners of the UDC being Botswana Congress Party ( BCP), Botswana National Front ( BNF) and Botswana People’s Party ( BPP).
Dr Patrick Molutsi, the chairman of the petitioners committee said as the 15 petitioners, they have since resolved that each should contribute P40 000 towards both the High Court and Court of Appeal bills.
Dr. Molutsi who contested Goodhope- Mabule Constituency said they petitioned because they wanted to preserve democracy in the country.
“We could not share our evidence in court because we lost the case on technicality. We felt that if we do not challenge the election outcome we would have not done justice for our democracy.
“With the experience I have in elections, having worked in an international organisation on elections and democracy what we saw in 2019 was shocking,” Dr. Molutsi said. He revealed that the bill for High Court is hefty as it is for both BDP and IEC.
According to Dr. Molutsi the bill is close to a million if not more and they are still waiting for it. We appeal to the public who believe in defending democracy and people of goodwill to assist us in raising the funds, he added.
The petitioners’ chairperson said from next month other properties from petitioners are to be auctioned and the plan is to beat the deadline.
Other members of Dr. Molutsi’s committee are Ketlhalefile Motshegwa ( Secretary), Victor Phologolo, Haskins Nkaigwa and Nelson Ramaotwana.
Dr. Molutsi revealed that currently not all the 15 petitioners have managed to raise the P40 000 they set for themselves.
“This is because the elections left us in debt and we are broke. Some are still paying the debts for election campaigns. We have been hard hit by the election campaigns costs.
“Only one colleague has been able to raise the P40 000 while others have raised below that but keep on contributing until they reach the P40 000 target. “The plan was that if we all contribute we will make P600 000 and be able to pay off the Appeals Court debt while the remainder of that money will go towards the High Court bill.
“The thing is the bill is joined meaning you cannot pay individually and come out of it,” noted Dr. Molutsi.