An invitation for hackers to test Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) supplied by Bharat Electronics Limited of India at a demonstration session next week Thursday in Gaborone has sparked widespread controversy in the political arena. The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has invited "those with the know how to disrupt, hack and compromise the security performance of the machines to do so" at a demonstration session by Bharat on how the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail works, next week. "All those with technical capability to hack the EVM are invited to come forward and register with the Project Coordinating Unit by end of business on Monday 15," says Acting Secretary of the IEC, Bontle Marumoloa. The demonstration comes long before a case in which opposition Botswana Congress Party (BCP) is suing government and the IEC over the amendment of the electoral Act, which introduces the procurement and use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). Last week the IEC indicated that they have suspended the procurement of EVMs pending the court case. Although the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), who used their majority in Parliament to pass the controversial amendment paving the way for EVMs, is happy with the demonstration opposition parties are reading…