PREPARATIONS for bi-elections scheduled for five constituencies and 38 Local Government Electoral Divisions are advancing at going at a snail’s pace, notwithstanding that political parties are already holding their respective rallies.

Newly appointed Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) Chairperson, Mphasa Mokhochane said the planned bi-elections cannot go beyond September.

He said this is because regulations show that the bi-elections cannot be held 12 months prior to holding national elections.
Mr Mokhochane said therefore September is the only ideal date for holding the bi-elections, since the general elections are due sometime next year.
He said they have invited companies to advice IEC on what to do in order to register voters quickly, as they plan to dismantle the current voters’ database, which was used to host several national as well as Local Government elections.
 “We need a registers database which is credible and that will be accepted by all the political party leaders in order to hold transparent and credible elections,” he said.

Several international companies, he also said turned up to show expression of interest, including Nikuv which produced Identity Documents (IDs) for Lesotho.

“No decision has been taken yet by the IEC, as we need to meet political party leaders to give them the mandate and direction on what ought to be done going forward,” he said.
The bi-elections will be held in Makhoroana, Maliepetsane, Mohale's Hoek, Qacha's Nek and Kolo where MPs in those constituencies either died or resigned.