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2001 Botswana judicial reform referendum

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A referendum on judicial reform was held in Botswana on 3 November 2001, having been originally scheduled for 6 October, but later postponed. The referendum asked eight separate questions about judges and courts, all of which were approved, seven by a margin of over 70%. Voter turnout for the referendum was just 4.9%, with 22,600 votes from a total of 460,252 registered voters. The postponement of the referendum by the government, a legal challenge by the Tswana nationalist group Pitso Ya Batswana, and a call by the group for a boycott were all suggested as reasons for the low turnout. Pitso Ya Batswana claimed that the referendum was an attempt by the BaKalanga ethnic group, who are over-represented in the judicial system, to increase their hold over it.

Question I

The first question was regarding qualification of candidates to be appointed judges on the High Court:

The proposal was passed with a 74.2% approval.

ChoiceVotes%
For16,03874.2
Against5,57425.8
Invalid/blank votes985–
Total22,597100
Registered voters/turnout460,2524.9
Source: African Elections Database

Question II

The second question was regarding qualification of candidates to be appointed judges on the Court of Appeal:

The proposal was passed with a 74.81% approval.

ChoiceVotes%
For16,15274.8
Against5,43625.2
Invalid/blank votes988–
Total22,576100
Registered voters/turnout460,2524.9
Source: African Elections Database

Question III

The third question was regarding a change in the designation of High Court judges:

The proposal was passed with a 76.74% approval.

ChoiceVotes%
For16,56576.7
Against5,01923.3
Invalid/blank votes995–
Total22,579100
Registered voters/turnout460,2524.9
Source: African Elections Database

Question IV

The fourth question was regarding raising the retirement age of High Court and Court of Appeal judges:

The proposal was passed, although with only a 53.93% approval, far lower than any of the other questions.

ChoiceVotes%
For11,75153.9
Against10,03746.1
Invalid/blank votes789–
Total22,577100
Registered voters/turnout460,2524.9
Source: African Elections Database

Question V

The fifth question was regarding the nomination of members of the Judicial Service Commission:

The proposal was passed with a 72.45% approval.

ChoiceVotes%
For15,76572.5
Against5,99427.5
Invalid/blank votes802–
Total22,561100
Registered voters/turnout460,2524.9
Source: African Elections Database

Question VI

The sixth question was regarding the Judicial Service Commission:

The proposal was passed with a 72.68% approval.

ChoiceVotes%
For15,83372.7
Against5,95127.3
Invalid/blank votes789–
Total22,573100
Registered voters/turnout460,2524.9
Source: African Elections Database

Question VII

The seventh question was regarding the Industrial Court:

The proposal was passed with a 74.5% approval.

ChoiceVotes%
For16,21674.5
Against5,54925.5
Invalid/blank votes792–
Total22,557100
Registered voters/turnout460,2524.9
Source: African Elections Database

Question VIII

The eighth and last question was regarding the Chief Justice:

The proposal was passed with a 76.68% approval, the highest of all the proposals.

ChoiceVotes%
For16,58476.9
Against4,89523.1
Invalid/blank votes1,023–
Total22,592100
Registered voters/turnout460,2524.9
Source: African Elections Database

References

References

  1. [http://www.eisa.org.za/WEP/bot2001referendum.htm Botswana: 2001 Referendum] {{Webarchive. link. (2010-05-11 EISA)
  2. [http://africanelections.tripod.com/bw_2.html#2001_Referendum Botswana: 2001 referendum] African Elections Database
  3. [http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?reportid=28143 Botswana: Ethnic tensions on the rise] IRIN, 8 November 2001
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