Botswana IEC employee arrested for sharing confidential pre-election information
Gaborone, Botswana (PANA) - The Botswana Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has confirmed with regret the recent social media reports involving its employee who has been arrested and is under police investigation for criminal conduct.
The IEC employee was based in village of Molepolole, a village in South East Botswana, 59.0 kilometers from the capital, Gaborone.
The IEC employee, together with a certain politician, was arrested for colluding in exchanging confidential information from the Commission without authority.
Osupile Maroba, IEC Public Relations Office, said the employee shared the confidential data form which has voters’ names and their contact numbers.
Maroba said "This form was developed prior to the General Voter Registration and was administered during the registration to assist us with following up voters for correction of their details in the roll. The document is not a public document and remains confidential.
“We strongly condemn and do not tolerate misconduct of any person engaged by the Commission who by virtue of their engagement has access to confidential data. Any collusion with stakeholders in sharing sensitive and confidential voters’ data is criminal and punishable. The voters have entrusted us to protect their personal data and will not allow such data to be shared publicly unless otherwise mandated by the law to do so.”
He said the conclusion of the police investigations will guide the action to be taken against the IEC employee.
-0- PANA MS/VAO 15Oct2019
