Madigele may get a re-run
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Tuesday August 13, 2024 08:51
According to a source, Dr. Alfred Madigele who appealed last month's results presented evidence against his opponent, Christian Greeff, asserting that the integrity of the election process was compromised. Madigele argued that the election, which was overseen by the incumbent area legislator Greeff, was marred by inconsistencies and violations, thereby compromising the overall integrity of the results.
Greeff had won with 901 votes, while Madigele received 856 votes followed by Pelonomi Bantsi who garnered 506 votes. If the party Central Committee (CC) agrees with the recommendations made by the regional committee, based on the evidence presented by the appellant, then all participants in the party’s primary elections, known as Bulela- Ditswe, would likely have to go through a second round of voting.
Moreover, Madigele claimed that Greeff's actions, such as transporting polling officers to stations, violated party procedures, which he described as indicative of an authoritarian approach. Madigele said the election officers had failed to brief candidates on how they would run the elections as part of the requirements of primary elections. He accused his opponent of accommodating election officers which is against party procedure and also transporting them which he said he had evidence of. Furthermore, he said bias and improper conduct by polling officers is also a concern.
“In one of the polling stations (Morula) a polling officer was heard instructing voters to vote his opponent. This is a clear breach of the required impartiality by those who were assigned this sacred duty of conducting elections and represents a severe and immoral conflict of interest,” Madigele said. However, Mmegi has learnt that the appellant had backed his accusations with evidence of videos and photos. Moreover, Madigele also accused the branch committee of undue influence and interference as some of them were in the voting hall and also effectively running the election as if they were election officers. Therefore, Madigele said what branch committee members did were against the rules and regulations of BDP primary elections. Meanwhile at Gaborone Central constituency, Mmegi has learnt that the incumbent Member of Parliament Tumisang Healy's appeal might not see the light of the day since there is no evidence against his opponent. Bontsi Monare had won with 1013 votes against Healy's 653 votes. Contacted for comment, the regional committee secretary Alfred Moatlhaping said they cannot share recommendations with the media as they will give the concerned members the letters first.