Botswana poll fraud suspected
‘Loss of faith in electoral system a recipe for civil strife in region’
THE leader of Botswana’s opposition alliance, Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), Duma Boko, has warned that if electoral systems are undermined there could be civil strife not just in his country but the region.
Boko was speaking yesterday at a media briefing in which he made allegations of widespread electoral fraud during the presidential polls in October.
”We are making a call to every country, the SADC (Southern African Development Community), and the world to say there is something seriously wrong here.
“If the people begin to lose faith and confidence in the electoral systems, if that unfortunate result occurs, then you have a recipe for civil strife and instability not just in Botswana but in the region. It becomes our collective responsibility to ensure that doesn’t happen,” he said.
Boko also addressed claims that opposition parties in Botswana were bankrolled by the Motsepe family, saying the UDC never received any funds from the Motsepes.
”I can confirm for you here and now, authoritatively, that the UDC did not receive any assistance from the family that was mentioned. We had absolutely no dealings with that family, none whatsoever,” he said.
Boko blamed what he described as a narrative that was spun as part of Botswana’s ruling party’s election campaign.
”The mud smearing in which newspapers were roped in to push this narrative is a false narrative,” he said.
According to Boko, the courts have issued an interdict in Botswana and there are defamation claims in which massive amounts of money are involved.
Last week, billionaire businessman Patrice Motsepe obtained an interdict against a Botswana newspaper, the Sunday Standard, which reported ahead of the elections that he had smuggled in R22 million to fund the BDP presidential campaign of former foreign affairs minister Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi.
Motsepe is also suing the newspaper for five million pula (about R6.8m).
His sister and businesswoman Bridgette Motsepe-Radebe was also a subject of negative reports by the Sunday Standard, which she said were incorrect, caused her reputational damage and amounted to character assassination.
Forensics for Justice founding director Paul O’Sullivan, who investigated the alleged electoral fraud in Botswana, said: “I regret that I am not able to comment on any families that are alleged to be involved in any hanky-panky in Botswana and I think if I did that would more likely be seen as a red herring. What we need to do is focus on the facts and what I’ve presented here today are facts.
“We have in our possession evidence, prima facie evidence, absolute, 100%, definite evidence of vote rigging.”
O’Sullivan said the evidence of vote rigging is able to be proven by an independent audit of the elections.
O’Sullivan also revealed that Boko yesterday launched 16 applications in Botswana courts which he hoped would force the hand of the Botswana government and citizens who were involved in the vote rigging.
He said he had told the South African government about what Forensics for Justice uncovered in Botswana.
”I have a duty as a citizen of this country to notify my government if I think our neighbour is involved in something which has the potential to destabilise the region not just politically but financially and that’s the reason and the basis on which I have notified our government,” said O’Sullivan.
However, he said he was not at liberty to reveal who he has notified in government and who he has notified.
”I just carried out my responsibility as a citizen and I have notified at a high enough level to make sure that they are aware of what has been going on,” explained O’Sullivan.