Botswana electronic voting machines introduction issue before high court

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Botswana electronic voting machines introduction issue before high court

8:12 CAT | 16 May 2017

The plan by the government in Gabarone to introduce Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) in the country is a controversial issue, and there is a case that was brought before the High Court by the opposition Botswana Congress Party (BCP) challenging the introduction of EVMs. BCP is a member of Botswana’s opposition bloc, Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), which has said since the EVMs matter is before the High Court, it sees no reason to participate in the demonstration organized by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).

“For that reason we are not going to attend that demonstration. We have voiced our opposition to an act of parliament that authorizes the use of EVMs and we want the issue to be resolved through a court of law,” said UDC spokesperson Moeti Mohwasa, who announced that the opposition collective will not be participating in the demonstration scheduled for 17 May in the capital Gaborone.

Members of UDC include Botswana National Front (BNF), Botswana Congress Party (BCP), Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) and Botswana People’s Party (BPP).

The IEC, along with a team of experts from the system’s supplier Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) of India, will demonstrate how the EVM (with the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail) works, amid calls for the government to abandon the project.

Hackers have also been invited come and prove whether or not the country’s proposed EVM system can be manipulated.

Source: APA