Botswana’s Governing Party Ousted After 58 Years

The electorate in Botswana has voted out the nation’s long-standing ruling party, a development described as a significant political upheaval in the southern African country, known for its diamond wealth. The Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), which has governed since the country gained independence in 1966, secured merely four parliamentary seats by Friday afternoon. The Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) is set to take its place. President Mokgweetsi Masisi acknowledged defeat and extended congratulations to his rival, UDC leader Duma Boko, during a telephone conversation. Although the BDP presided over substantial transformation in Botswana, its popularity suffered due to recent sluggish economic growth and elevated unemployment rates. Masisi stated at a press conference that the party “had got it wrong big time”. He declared, “I will respectfully step aside and participate in a smooth transition process ahead of inauguration. I am proud of our democratic processes and I respect the will of the people.” The President encouraged his supporters to maintain composure and support the incoming administration. During his call with Boko, the outgoing president affirmed, “You can count on me to always be there to provide whatever guidance you might want.” Making his initial remarks to the media after the results were confirmed, Boko, a 54-year-old former human rights lawyer, commented: “What has happened today takes our democracy to a higher level. It now means we’ve seen a successful, peaceful, orderly democratic transition.” He further stated, “It’s a shock to me in terms of the numbers. I’m humbled and I can only pledge to [the people of Botswana] that we’ll do the very best.” This election marked his third attempt as a presidential candidate. Supporters of the UDC and other opposition factions have been observed celebrating in Gaborone, the capital, and across the nation. Mpho Mogorosi, a 23-year-old student who joined the celebrations in Gaborone, informed the Reuters news agency, “I did not ever think I would witness this change in my life.” She added, “The BDP had stayed too long in power and I am proud to be part of the people that removed them for a better Botswana.” The UDC has secured 35 seats, based on the most recent count, thereby achieving an absolute majority in parliament. The party has committed to implementing a new economic approach aimed at generating well-compensated employment and ensuring equitable wealth distribution to empower all citizens. Kgoberego Nkawana, recently elected as a Member of Parliament, informed the BBC’s Newsday programme that a significant number of young people in Botswana are still unemployed, despite the country’s substantial diamond reserves and a reasonably robust tourism sector. Nkawana stated, “The unemployment rate is very very high and people are living literally on handouts from government because there are no jobs. So it’s really bad.” The party has pledged to establish between 450,000 and 500,000 jobs over the next five years. The Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF), which receives backing from former President Ian Khama after his departure from the BDP, has currently obtained five seats, while the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) holds 14 seats. Political analyst Lesole Machacha remarked that the acceptance of the governmental change was highly commendable. He conveyed to the BBC, “It’s very rare [on the continent] for a smooth transition to occur.” He added, “This has been very peaceful.” Masisi, who has been in office since 2018, headed the BDP’s unsuccessful campaign. The president’s campaign centered on the promise that his party could deliver “change,” yet an insufficient number of voters were persuaded that the BDP was capable of addressing the nation’s requirements. Further reporting was contributed by Innocent Selatlhwa from Gaborone. For additional news from the African continent, visit BBCAfrica.com. Follow updates on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa, or on Instagram at bbcafrica. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external linking is available.