The Botswana Congress Party (BCP) has accused the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) of what it calls “nefarious plans to ram through EVM (electronic voting machines) as a way of guaranteeing itself victory in 2024.”
The party’s spokesperson Mpho Pheko said in a statement that they were whistle blowing and warning “the nation and the international community about what the BDP is planning to do in order to steal the 2024 elections.”
The BCP said it has it on good and impeccable authority that plans to force through electronic voting machines are already at an advanced stage and a lot of ground work has been done.
“The idea behind bringing EVM is to ensure that the BDP has total control over the electoral process, including all the codes and ability to hack and manipulate even the Omang Database to deliver an Ill-gotten victory to a regime that is otherwise headed for near certain electoral defeat,” said Pheko.
She said it was now clear to all and sundry that it is now virtually impossible for BDP to win a free and fair election in 2024. She said in the lead up the 2019 elections, the BCP led the way by litigating to stop BDP from rigging elections through the EVM route.
“Those who have been following the recently held Kenyan Elections may have read hair raising stories of how some Venezuelans had access to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission of Kenya (IEBC)‘s database,” said Pheko.
She said the danger with EVMs was that all the electronic codes and capacity to rig would be in the hands of the BDP, a contestant in the elections. It is common cause that EVMs are known to be hackable and prone to manipulation.
“The BDP is so advanced in its plan to rig the 2024 elections through EVM and other mechanisms and has already ensured that the institutions set up to run the elections and adjudicate over any allegations of irregularity, corrupt practices, etc., are run by its deployees so that no complaint, no matter how credible, succeeds,” said Pheko. She added that; “Just think for a moment on the quality of leadership at the IEC and the judiciary. It is all systems go.”
This evil plans notwithstanding, the BCP said, it was convinced that “our people will this time stand up to defeat the BDP’s evil plans to rig elections and undermine the will of the people.”
“Our people must be prepared and should stand ready to defend their vote,” said Pheko.
She said without honest, clean, free and fair elections, the possibility of Batswana to elect a government of their choice does not exist – and the chances that BDP will rule in perpetuity without the mandate of the people is high.
“The battle to defend democracy in this country has become a top priority for every Motswana because if there is no democracy our country would descend into chaos and become a failed state. We believe it is up to Batswana to know about these plans in time and to stand ready to defend their right to vote and participate in free and fair elections. Young people must understand that they are a game changer,” said Pheko. She said Batswana must guard their vote by rejecting EVMs.
“We wish to take this opportunity, as early as now, to warn civil society and all the freedom loving Batswana to be vigilant and stand ready to defend democracy.”
She added that; “We remind the BDP government that the government priorities should be on rebuilding the economy, fixing the broken education and health systems, facilitating job creation for the youth and fighting corruption.”
The BCP said it is determined to do everything in “our power to stop BDP from rigging elections,” adding that “every government must be founded on the free will of the people. We will therefore use all lawful means to ensure that the will of the people is not frustrated.”
