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Botswana president concedes defeat in election after party’s six-decade rule Botswana president concedes defeat in election after party’s six-decade rule
(about 2 hours later)
Early results show Mokgweetsi Masisi’s Botswana Democratic party on track to lose by landslideEarly results show Mokgweetsi Masisi’s Botswana Democratic party on track to lose by landslide
Botswana’s president, Mokgweetsi Masisi, has conceded defeat after preliminary results showed his party had lost its parliamentary majority in this week’s election, ending nearly six decades in power. Botswana’s president, Mokgweetsi Masisi, has conceded defeat after preliminary results showed his party had lost its parliamentary majority by a landslide in this week’s election, ending nearly six decades in power.
The private Mmegi newspaper and state radio reported that the ruling Botswana Democratic party (BDP) had lost by a landslide, citing results from more than half the constituencies. With more than half of constituencies reporting, the opposition coalition Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) had a significant lead, putting its leader, the lawyer Duma Boko, on track to win the presidency.
The opposition coalition, Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), was in front, putting its leader, the lawyer Duma Boko, on track to win the presidency. Boko has not yet spoken publicly. Analysts said that mounting socioeconomic grievances, particularly among young people, were the downfall of the ruling Botswana Democratic party (BDP), which has governed the small southern African state since independence from Britain in 1966.
Botswana has largely depended on its diamonds for income, but a downturn in the global diamond market caused economic growth to plummet this year, while unemployment rose to 28%.
State television showed that based on results from 41 of the 61 constituencies up for grabs, the UDC had won 26 seats in parliament while the BDP had only three. Members of parliament elect the president.
Boko, who has not yet spoken publicly since the result, had campaigned on issues such as raising the minimum wage and increasing social grants.
At a press conference, Masisi said: “Although I wanted to stay on as your president, I respect the will of the people and I congratulate the president-elect. I will step aside and I will support the new administration.”At a press conference, Masisi said: “Although I wanted to stay on as your president, I respect the will of the people and I congratulate the president-elect. I will step aside and I will support the new administration.”
Analysts had said the election would be competitive, although the BDP had still been widely expected to win. The party has ruled the southern African country of 2.3 million people since its independence from Britain in 1966. The capital, Gaborone, was calm on Friday morning, with small groups of opposition supporters celebrating in the streets. “I did not ever think I would witness this change in my life,” said Mpho Mogorosi, a 23-year-old student. “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.”
Mmegi said that based on the results from 36 of the 61 constituencies, opposition parties had won more than half the seats in parliament, which elects the president. The BDP was the second long-ruling party in southern Africa to experience defeat at the polls this year, after South Africa’s African National Congress also lost its parliamentary majority after 30 years in power and was forced to form a coalition government.
State radio had the same tally. It said that out of the 36 constituencies so far, the BDP had won only one. The UDC had won 25. A party needs to win 31 constituencies to get a majority in this election.
Botswana has enjoyed stability and relative prosperity thanks to its diamond wealth and small population, which gets free healthcare and education. The country is the world’s top producer by value of the gem.
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But a downturn in the diamond market has put a squeeze on revenues in the last few years, and the country has struggled to diversify its economy. Neighbouring Namibia will hold elections later this month in which the ruling Swapo party, which has governed since 1990, is expected to face a stiff challenge.
Zaynab Hoosen, an Africa analyst at Pangea-Risk, said: “The outcome of Botswana’s elections should serve as a warning to longtime ruling parties across southern Africa and beyond that without economic progress and employment opportunities, political dominance will falter.”