At least three officers of Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) and some members of opposition political party are the focus of police investigations following the mysterious disappearance of voter registration books.
Lobatse Officer commanding Senior Superintendent Oreneetse Mogapaesi told The Telegraph on Monday that they have arrested three IEC registration officers, two men and one woman aged between 21 and 23 following the disappearance of the two registration books in one of the polling stations in Lobatse.
She said the matter is still fresh as it was only reported to the police this week on Sunday by one of the registration officers and police investigations commenced on Monday.
“What puzzles us is the fact that the incident occurred on the 24th of last month last but it was only reported to the police on Sunday,” Mogapaesi said.
She indicated that it is of paramount importance that once an incident happens the matter is immediately reported to the police. This enables the police to gather as much evidence as they can compared to the challenges faced in matters that are reported so late. The whole thing makes investigations difficult.
Mogapaesi said the registration books were later found but they had been tempered with.
She said although the police investigations are ongoing, the number of suspects is expected to increase as the net widens.
“I am not in a position to speculate on possible charges that might be pressed against the alleged suspects as the outcome of the investigation will determine the plausible charges,” she stated.
Mogapesi would not want to be drawn into whether any of the political parties are also part of the investigation.
“Like I said before, the investigations are still at an infant stage. I cannot say whether political parties might also be implicated. That will be revealed by the outcome of the investigations as our net is wide”.
IEC spokesperson Osupile Maroba confirmed the incident.
“The matter is now with the police and investigations are ongoing therefore I will not be in a position to divulge certain information as it may in a way compromise police investigations.”
He said after completion of investigations IEC will be able to know the authenticity of those registered.
Each of the two registration books contains about 50 leaflets, he said.
Maroba said the registration officers are allowed to keep registration books at their place of abode but this is the first case of this kind.
“We have never experienced this.”
 He further said if found guilty proper action will be taken against the perpetrators in accordance with the Electoral Act.
