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By Mpho Tebele

Gaborone – The government of Botswana plans to abandon the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in next year's general elections scheduled for October.

The thorny issue should be debated at All Vice President Slumber Tsogwane said this in a speech to the media in the capital Gaborone.

Tsogwane said that the purchase of the EVMs was not done, adding that their use would depend on the preparation of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).

"It will also depend on the outcome of the ongoing trials and the opportunity to procure the machines for next year's general election." Tsogwane said, adding that: "But I can confirm you that there will be elections next year."

According to the vice president, even if the EVMs are not used, other electoral reforms will be put implemented such as the single registration of voters.

"The purchase of EVMs has not been done, its use will depend on the preparation of the Independent Commission of Voters," he reiterated.

Asked about what required the introduction of the machines, Tsogwane said that studies have shown that most of the traffic in voters occurs during the extra registration, which Where its cancellation. "

" We will allow a longer period, "he said when asked if the cancellation of the additional registration would not contribute to the apathy of voters.

The IEC also expressed concern that the court cases that were initiated by the Congress Party of Botswana their preparations for the general elections. The opposition party and the union dispute the introduction of the machines saying that they are unconstitutional.

Tsogwane said that President Mokgweetsi Masisi should discuss the matter extensively with opposition leaders at the all-party conference

. Presidential Affairs Minister Nonofo Molefhi said the IEC was responsible for implementing electoral reforms, saying the multiparty conference would allow all parties to discuss issues at length.

about the IEC following its discussions with different political parties and the public, whereas if it had been discussed at the forum of the All Party Conference, it would have long sought ideas of all in the political sphere.

In a previous interview with Botswana Guardian, the late former president Sir Ketumile Masire also rejected the introduction of EVMS.

The paper cited his question was no longer to know if there were plans to steal the 2019 elections, but if an election could be deemed credible it was not a good thing. there was a huge black cloud on her.

Masire reportedly said: At any stage, the electoral process seems defective in the eyes of citizens, all exercise would lose not only credibility, but the legitimacy of a government that would emerge this process would also be eroded. "