Botswana's president defends electoral body as nation votes

GABORONE, BOTSWANA — 

Botswanan President Mokgweetsi Masisi is defending the country’s electoral assemblage amid disapproval of its preparedness arsenic voting began Wednesday.

Critics said immoderate polling stations opened late, determination weren’t capable stations to grip the fig of voters, and lines were long.

Masisi, who is seeking a 2nd and last term, told journalists aft casting his ballot successful his location colony of Moshupa, southwest of Gaborone, that helium is assured of victory. The predetermination volition find the constitution of parliament, and lawmakers volition aboriginal elite the president.

Masisi besides said helium was contented with the behaviour of the Independent Electoral Commission, which has faced disapproval from absorption parties connected however it has handled the pre-election period.

He said immoderate quality that the IEC is not autarkic of his enforcement subdivision is “really astir cosmetic,” explaining that the authorities fund process requires the enforcement subdivision to contiguous a fund connected behalf of each different areas of the government, including the judiciary.

“Some are suggesting for the IEC to beryllium independent,” Masisi said, “[that] they indispensable spell to parliament to contiguous [their own] budget. But they are not members of parliament. How bash you get an autarkic assemblage to relationship to politicians?”

Voting began with immoderate polling stations opening late.

IEC spokesperson Osupile Maroba acknowledged the difficulties but said they were resolved aboriginal capable to let voters to formed their ballots.

On the eve of the election, absorption parties took the IEC to court, questioning the electoral commission’s readiness. Maroba said the parties were wrong their rights to question the involution of the courts.

“We are dealing with a delicate emotive process that volition ever bring astir complaints,” Maroba said. “It volition bring astir challenges that volition pb to going to the courts. As the laws of Botswana allow, anybody who is not blessed with a process has a mode to effort and question redress.”

Meanwhile, Masisi said the clip spent astatine the polling stations could beryllium improved done a integer voting system.

Some voters were astatine the polling stations arsenic aboriginal arsenic 4 a.m.

One voter, Mosedi Kenosi, said helium ran retired of patience owed to the dilatory process.

“Maybe I volition spell backmost later,” helium said. “The process has been slow. I waited for much than 3 hours to vote. The verification process takes forever, which discourages voters.”

The elections travel arsenic the state faces an economical downturn owed to anemic planetary diamond sales. The absorption has criticized Masisi’s party, the Botswana Democratic Party, for failing to supply solutions.

Polling stations were expected to adjacent astatine 7 p.m., with aboriginal results expected Thursday morning.

This communicative includes accusation from The Associated Press.