Botswana’s ruling party has suffered a shocking defeat in the recent elections, marking the end of nearly 60 years of governance. Preliminary results indicate that President Mokgweetsi Masisi’s Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) lost its grip on power, with opposition parties winning at least 35 of the 61 parliamentary seats, as reported by the electoral commission.
The BDP, which has dominated the diamond-rich Southern African nation since gaining independence in 1966, secured only one seat as of early Friday morning, reflecting a dramatic shift in the political landscape of Botswana.
The Umbrella for Democratic Change, led by Harvard-trained human rights lawyer Duma Boko, emerged as a key contender, winning 22 seats. The Botswana Congress Party, headed by economist Dumelang Saleshando, claimed eight seats, while the Botswana Patriotic Front, formed by supporters of former President Ian Khama after his departure from the BDP, captured five seats.
As of 5:04 a.m. on November 1, 2024, the newspaper Mmegi reported that opposition parties had collectively garnered more than half of the parliamentary seats, signaling the BDP’s official loss of state power. Under Botswana’s constitution, the party with a majority of parliamentary seats has the authority to elect the president and form a government.
Masisi, a 63-year-old former high school teacher and UNICEF worker, was widely expected to maintain his parliamentary majority and secure a second and final term. His administration had been perceived as a continuation of the BDP’s longstanding leadership.
Often hailed as one of Africa’s greatest success stories, Botswana is recognized for being one of the continent’s wealthiest and most stable democracies. However, the recent electoral results suggest a notable shift in public sentiment and increased political engagement among the electorate.
The country’s economy has faced challenges due to a global downturn in demand for mined diamonds, which account for over 80 percent of Botswana’s exports. The International Monetary Fund forecasts economic growth to slow to 1 percent in 2024, down from 2.3 percent last year and 5.5 percent in 2022. Rising unemployment, currently at 27 percent, with an even higher rate among young people, has created a sense of urgency for change.
Prior to the elections, the BDP acknowledged the pressing need to diversify the economy and pledged to explore new growth sectors, such as agriculture and tourism, highlighting an awareness of the challenges facing the nation and the necessity for a strategic shift in governance.
