Maseru, Dec. 04 — The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) says it is ready to deliver free, fair and credible elections in all the 10 Electoral Divisions (EDs) on Friday this week.
IEC’s Logistical Manager Acting, Mrs. ‘Manepo Letsapo told the Agency on Monday that everything is in place in terms of logistical arrangement after the arrival of the election material that included a ballot paper last week Thursday.
She explained that the ballot paper is kept at the IEC Warehouse where it is currently under guard day and night by the Special Operations Unit (SOU) police as well as all the political parties’ representatives.
The Logistics Manager Acting said the ballot paper will start to be distributed to the districts of Mokhotlong, Thaba Tseka, Leribe, Mafeteng and Maseru rural at Mohlakeng Community Council on Wednesday this week.
She stated that for the Maseru Municipal Council (MMC 08), the ballot paper will only be distributed on Thursday, which is a day before the by-election.
Mrs. Letsapo said the ballot paper will be given the same treatment like any other elections, whether they are general elections, local government elections or by elections.
Furthermore, she said the election material will still be under heavy security from the SOU and all the concerned political parties from Maseru to the districts, where it will be handed over to the IEC staff and police at the district level, before they could be sent to the EDs.
IEC was forced to hold by-elections, fresh elections as well as the runoff elections in 10 EDs due to candidates having died before the date of the Local Government elections, having ties when the results were announced and the Councillors who died after being elected as Community Councillors.
The fresh elections will be held at MMC 08 in the Maseru district, Bolahla 11 C02 in the Leribe district, Menkhoaneng 08 CO5-08 in the Leribe district and Manka 07 C10-07 in the Leribe district.
The by elections will be held at Mohlakeng 02 A05-02 in the Maseru district while the runoff elections are scheduled at Sephokong 5 CO7-05 in Leribe, Makoabating 04 E05-04 in Mafeteng, Ramoetsana 09 E03-09, Menoaneng 15 J04-10 in Mokhotlong and Bokong 10 K04-10 in Thaba Tseka.
