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Legalbrief   |   your legal news hub Friday 29 March 2024

Opposition wins right to challenge poll result

Botswana's Court of Appeal last week ruled in favour of hearing an opposition bid to throw out general election results after a lower court rejected its petition due to a lack of evidence. The ruling Botswana Democratic Party won a sweeping majority in the October polls, securing 38 out of 57 seats in Parliament. The runner-up, the Umbrella for Democratic Change, filed the suit in November, citing 'irregularities in some of the constituencies'. A report on the News24 site notes that Justice Singh Walia overturned the earlier High Court ruling. 'I am satisfied ... that the applicants have reasonable arguable cases on appeal,' Walia said. The appeal is scheduled to be heard on 29 January.