The EFF statement on Botswana elections

24 October 2014

The Economic Freedom Fighters warns against reading the "free and fairness" of Botswana elections by only judging the activities of the day of elections. The freeness and fairness of elections must be understood within the entire period since the election date was announced by the electoral commission.

The Botswana regime throughout the campaign has used authoritarian means to suppress free flow of ideas and criticism particularly leveled against themselves. The regime did this by arresting journalists who are critical, intimidated them and also refused the opposition visits to Botswana for support by its fraternal organisations.

The Botswana regime tries to use elections as a formality to legitimize authoritarianism. They are a dictatorial and authoritarian regime that suppresses those who differ with it and history will judge it harshly.

The EFF believes that elections must be free and fair. Candidates must be allowed to air their views, receive support and demonstrate it from anywhere they want, including their friends abroad. No journalists must be intimidated, arrested and told what not to report on. Only under such conditions can an election be declared free and fair, otherwise the only story told to the electorate is the one preferred by government, which in turn reaffirms its rule.

Statement issued by the Economic Freedom Fighters, October 24 2014

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