Court rejects poll petition

A Gaborone court has dismissed the opposition Umbrella for Democratic Change's (UDC) call to have the results of the October general election thrown out over ‘irregularities’. The ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) won with a majority of 38 seats against the UDC's 15 seats in the 57-member Parliament. A report on The Chronicle site notes that the UDC had petitioned the court and contested the outcome of the election citing ‘irregularities in some of the constituencies’. Justice Mercy Garekwe said ‘it cannot be deduced that the people or institutions which allegedly committed the corrupt and illegal practices are election or polling agents of the 2nd respondent (BDP).’ ‘As for the BDP, names are mentioned but none of them are said to be election or polling agents of the 2nd respondent,' he added.