‘Mants’ali Phakoana
Ballot papers that were to be used in yesterday’s local government elections at Lekhalong Electoral Division (ED) in Berea district were stolen on Wednesday this week after thieves broke into a room where they were kept.
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) confirmed the incident, saying the unknown suspects stole the whole election kit including the ballot papers.
“IEC staff and party agents at the polling station decided not to sleep at the designated area but at their homes despite strict instructions not to leave the election kit unattended. It is in their absence that the break-in occurred.
“IEC management had to send a delegation that included its officials, security personnel and party representatives to South Africa to print a new batch of ballot papers. This batch has new serial numbers that are completely different from the stolen ballot papers, together with a new and different official mark,” IEC said in a statement yesterday.
It noted that the new ballot papers arrived in the country yesterday and they were swiftly dispatched to the affected ED where voting proceeded smoothly.
The electoral body added that the Lesotho Mounted Police Service have already launched a full scale investigation into the matter.
