The voter registration crisis for 2024 General Election

I write you this letter with respect to the above subject matter in my capacity as the President of the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) and on the instructions from its Central Committee.

As you know, the BCP is a duly registered political party with a direct and substantial interest in a free, fair and credible electoral process. One of the essential components of such a process is a timely and orderly voter registration process that is transparent.

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) announced a voter registration exercise that was to take place from October 4, 2023 to October 30, 2023. The Commission postponed the registration on account of its lack of readiness to undertake the exercise. There have been two further postponements announced with the last one being indefinite as the matter is before the High Court.

This situation has never happened before and will undoubtedly adversely affect the registration process, with the possibility that some Batswana may not be able to register for the elections over and above creation of voter apathy.

As things stand, we are behind schedule with the registration process and do not know when the process will commence and the duration over which it will take place. If this issue is not resolved soon, it is likely to cast a dark shadow over the entire electoral process leading to an election outcome whose credibility may be questionable.

The BCP believes that political parties are the primary stakeholders in the electoral process in a multi-party constitutional democracy. All the political parties that contest elections wish to be accorded the high privilege by the nation to run the affairs of the country. We therefore all have a responsibility to address any crisis that may undermine the process of forming the next government, as is clearly the case given the latest developments. We are required by the gravity of the problem we face presently to place the interests of the country above our partisan interests.

With the greatest respect your Excellency, the BCP takes the view that as the President of the Republic, you carry the primary responsibility for a smooth running of a national election. Where there is a threat to the smooth conduct of elections, you are expected to bring together the political leadership of the country to discuss the unfolding crisis with the view to finding a lasting solution that enjoys the support of all political players.

As the President of the Republic, you are required by the high office you hold to act in the most inclusive fashion in the interest of the Republic. You are not expected to assume the role of a spectator when there are clear signs that the country is about to be plunged into a crisis. You have taken an oath to always protect and defend the interests of the country.

It is in view of the above that I am writing to you to request that you urgently convene a meeting of the leadership of all the political parties to deliberate on the looming crisis concerning the voter registration process. As you may recall, sometime in July 2018, you convened such a meeting at which you promised to regularly consult political party leaders on issues related to democracy and elections.

I must make one matter clear to avoid any confusion and misunderstanding. I am not calling for a meeting of the political leadership to discuss the court case as that would be improper. The political leadership needs to reflect over the challenges we face and take steps to ensure that a free, fair and credible election is delivered in 2024.

I would be most grateful, Your Excellency, if you could accede to my sincere request and convene the meeting as a matter of extreme urgency.