STATEMENT OF THE BOTSWANA DEMOCRATIC PARTY ON COURT CASES PERTAINING TO THE OUTCOMES OF THE 2019 GENERAL ELECTIONS The BDP wishes to set the record and dispel confusion regarding the ongoing court cases and/or petitions on the results of the 2019 general elections. The nation is hereby informed that there are seven (7) petitions to be heard by a panel of three (3) High Court judges being Ketlogetswe J, Motumise J and Segopolo J. Notable among the petitions is that of Noah Salakae vs. Johane L. Thiite alongside six (6) other council candidate petitions. Resultant from a pretrial meeting of the parties, the BDP lawyers in agreement with the petitioners obtained a consent order of the court for the withdrawal of the affidavit of one Emmanuel Mohaludi (Seretse). Mr. Mohaludi had in his affidavit the inane allegations that the President, other senior members of the BDP and senior officials of government agencies were involved in a grand scheme to manipulate the outcome of the 2019 general elections. The parties also agreed that the petitioners will withdraw any and all references made to His Excellency Dr. Mokgweetsi EK Masisi. Note is also made that the Court of Appeal will on the 29th January 2019 listen to the appeals of 15 MP Candidates and one Council Candidate that were recently dismissed by the High Court. The BDP has through its attorneys raised a preliminary point that the Court of Appeal has no jurisdiction on appeals from decisions of the High Court on election petitions of MP candidates. The Court of Appeal may only hear appeals from decisions of the High Court concerning Council Candidates and thus may only listen to the Ramatsebanyana Appeal. The Party has obliged to the request of the Court that the fifteen (15) appeal cases be consolidated into one (1) as arguments are similar in all. As the Party in government, we call for an expedited verdict to allow for efficient conduct of the business of government and ensuring calm to the nation as we move on past the 2019 general elections.
The BDP reiterates its firm believe in the rule of law, an independent judiciary and free and fair elections for our continued legacy as a beacon of democracy in Africa. We wish the President Dr. Mokgweetsi EK Masisi and the nation good health and a prosperous 2020.
Ends.
ISSUED BY;
COMMUNICATIONS AND IR COMMITTEE