Africa-Press – Botswana. The general voters registration has started well in Botswana with political leaders registering in their respective constituencies as a way of encouraging residents to register and exercise their constitutional right to vote for their preferred leadership.
In Boteti Vice President Slumber Tsogwane registered for the upcoming general elections, on Friday in Rakops, his home village.
Mr Tsogwane, who is also Boteti West MP, said registering for elections was every Motswana’s right and responsibility.
Boteti West is a vast constituency with 64 polling stations, hence Mr Tsogwane encouraged people to register in large numbers.
Boteti acting district commissioner, Mr Ewetse Selelo confirmed successful registration by the Vice President at Tsienyane Primary School polling station.
He said the Vice President met all the general elections registration process requirements.
Meanwhile, a good number of citizens turned up to register for elections in Molepolole on Friday.
Among them was MP for Molepolole South, Mr Kabo Morwaeng, who encouraged Batswana to register in large numbers, adding that it was equally important for them to also cast their votes in the General Elections billed for October.
Mr Morwaeng, who is also the Minister for State President, said voting was every citizen’s constitutional right that allowed them to elect a government of their choice.
He said Botswana was internationally known as a peaceful country and this should be jealously protected through elections, adding that not every country enjoyed Botswana’s level of tranquility.
MP Morwaeng urged Batswana to ensure that their ID cards were valid and the registration cards were safely kept.
He further said people should invite their family members and friends when registering, just as he had also brought his wife and daughter.
For his part, Kgosi Letsile Rajonase of Gantshonyana ward also encouraged Batswana to register for elections in order for the country to continue to develop.
He said it was important for Batswana to fully appreciate the country’s development cycle, adding therefore that they should register and vote leaders that could propel the country and help it attain high standards of developments.
Kgosi Rajonase said a government could not be formed if people did not vote, and therefore for the country to continue enjoying its peace, Batswana should register and vote.
In the Mmathethe/Molapowabojang constituency, Dr Edwin Dikoloti, who is an area MP, also exercised is constitutional right by registering to vote at Lorwana polling station.
Speaking on Friday after registering, Dr Dikoloti who is also the Minister of Health, highlighted that it was every Motswana’s right, who is eighteen years and above to register for elections, to ensure that during general elections they vote for candidates who stood for their interests.
He further urged Batswana, including the youth from all corners of the country to register for elections, so that in October they could exercise their democratic right of voting for their preferred candidates.
Dr Dikoloti advised his constituents to encourage others to register, so that at the end of the month, a good number of Batswana would have registered.
“I urge all to take good care of the registration cards, while awaiting general elections,” he added.
Ms Kefilwe Kelebeng, a youth who also registered at Lorwana said she made a decision to register to ensure that during general elections, she would have the right to choose the candidates who would represent her at Parliament and local government.
“I urge the youth to do the same and avoid complaining about the country’s affairs, after failing to vote,” she said.
This, she said was the right time to register while polling stations were not congested, adding that it was just a matter of a few minutes.
Ms Connie Motladiile, still from Lorwana said it was a right for all eligible Batswana to register, so that they could vote for capable candidates who would bring developments that would positively change their lives.
One village elder, Ms Elizabeth Mooketsi said she wanted to vote during general elections for the candidates with the potential to take the country forward.
The youth, she said, as future leaders, should lead by example and register for elections.
Registration also started well in Francistown.
Francistown District commissioner, Ms Chabongwa Matseka said in an interview that all the polling stations opened at 8am on Friday without any glitches and with their resources and materials ready.
Further, the district commissioner acknowledged some stakeholders such as churches for housing polling stations.
She said they were 79 polling stations in three Francistown constituencies with Francistown East and South constituencies having 26 each while Francistown South had 27 polling stations.
In the Ngami constituency, general voter registration is said to be going well.
In an interview, Okavango acting deputy district commissioner, Ms Tumelo Chibua has said that all the polling stations opened on time on the first day of registration and that each polling station had two registration clerks.
She said that the turn-out of people to register was pleasing, especially in such big villages as Gumare and Nokaneng even though some people were still on holidays.
Ms Chibua said some officers were occasionally sent to settlements in hard to reach areas with no network coverage to find out how things were going.
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