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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 |
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| Early results show Mokgweetsi Masisi’s Botswana Democratic party on track to lose by landslide | Early results show Mokgweetsi Masisi’s Botswana Democratic party on track to lose by landslide |
| Botswana’s president, Mokgweetsi Masisi, has conceded defeat as early results from Wednesday’s election showed his Botswana Democratic party losing by a landslide after nearly six decades in power. | Botswana’s president, Mokgweetsi Masisi, has conceded defeat as early results from Wednesday’s election showed his Botswana Democratic party losing by a landslide after nearly six decades in power. |
| With more than half of constituencies counted, the opposition coalition Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) was heading for a parliamentary majority, with its leader, lawyer Duma Boko, on track to become the southern African country’s next president. | With more than half of constituencies counted, the opposition coalition Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) was heading for a parliamentary majority, with its leader, lawyer Duma Boko, on track to become the southern African country’s next president. |
| Soaring unemployment has hit young people especially hard, fuelling a backlash at the ballot box in Wednesday’s vote against the BDP, which has ruled the country of 2.5 million people since it became independent from Britain in 1966. | Soaring unemployment has hit young people especially hard, fuelling a backlash at the ballot box in Wednesday’s vote against the BDP, which has ruled the country of 2.5 million people since it became independent from Britain in 1966. |
| It is also part of a wider wave of popular discontent that has swelled across the continent, amid a lack of good jobs for growing youthful populations. | It is also part of a wider wave of popular discontent that has swelled across the continent, amid a lack of good jobs for growing youthful populations. |
| “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,” Masisi said at a press conference on Friday morning. | “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,” Masisi said at a press conference on Friday morning. |
| State television showed that out of 41 of the 61 constituencies that had reported results, the UDC had won 26 seats, while the BDP had just three. MPs will then elect the president. | State television showed that out of 41 of the 61 constituencies that had reported results, the UDC had won 26 seats, while the BDP had just three. MPs will then elect the president. |
| Botswana is the world’s second largest diamond producer, with income from the gems credited with helping the country to be one of the region’s most stable and wealthy states. | Botswana is the world’s second largest diamond producer, with income from the gems credited with helping the country to be one of the region’s most stable and wealthy states. |
| Nevertheless, a global slump in demand for diamonds has led to a sharp economic contraction: the IMF predicts economic growth of 1% this year, down from 2.7% in 2023 and 5.5% in 2022. Unemployment has risen to 28%, while more than a third of 15- to 35-year-olds are out of work. | |
| “The result was unexpected,” said Zoë McCathie, an analyst at Signal Risk. “Economic conditions in the country at the moment, specifically unemployment levels, have been a big factor.” | “The result was unexpected,” said Zoë McCathie, an analyst at Signal Risk. “Economic conditions in the country at the moment, specifically unemployment levels, have been a big factor.” |
| Boko had pledged to raise the minimum wage and increase social grants. | Boko had pledged to raise the minimum wage and increase social grants. |
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| 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.” | 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.” |
| 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. | 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. |
| Neighbouring Namibia will hold elections later this month in which the Swapo party, which has ruled since 1990, is expected to face a strong challenge. Mozambique’s ruling Frelimo party was declared the winner of elections earlier this month amid allegations that the results were rigged and killings of opposition figures. | Neighbouring Namibia will hold elections later this month in which the Swapo party, which has ruled since 1990, is expected to face a strong challenge. Mozambique’s ruling Frelimo party was declared the winner of elections earlier this month amid allegations that the results were rigged and killings of opposition figures. |
| Reuters contributed to this story. | Reuters contributed to this story. |