A referendum on judicial reform was held in Botswana on 3 November 2001, having been originally scheduled for 6 October, but later postponed.Botswana: 2001 Referendum EISA 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.Botswana: 2001 referendum African Elections Database 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.Botswana: Ethnic tensions on the rise IRIN, 8 November 2001 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%For16,03874.2Against5,57425.8Invalid/blank votes985–Total22,597100Registered voters/turnout460,2524.9Source: 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%For16,15274.8Against5,43625.2Invalid/blank votes988–Total22,576100Registered voters/turnout460,2524.9Source: 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%For16,56576.7Against5,01923.3Invalid/blank votes995–Total22,579100Registered voters/turnout460,2524.9Source: 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%For11,75153.9Against10,03746.1Invalid/blank votes789–Total22,577100Registered voters/turnout460,2524.9Source: 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%For15,76572.5Against5,99427.5Invalid/blank votes802–Total22,561100Registered voters/turnout460,2524.9Source: African Elections Database
Question VI The sixth question was regarding the Judicial Service Commission:
The proposal was passed with a 72.68% approval.
ChoiceVotes%For15,83372.7Against5,95127.3Invalid/blank votes789–Total22,573100Registered voters/turnout460,2524.9Source: African Elections Database
Question VII The seventh question was regarding the Industrial Court:
The proposal was passed with a 74.5% approval.
ChoiceVotes%For16,21674.5Against5,54925.5Invalid/blank votes792–Total22,557100Registered voters/turnout460,2524.9Source: 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%For16,58476.9Against4,89523.1Invalid/blank votes1,023–Total22,592100Registered voters/turnout460,2524.9Source: African Elections Database
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