Botswana’s incumbent President Mokgweetsi Masisi has conceded defeat in the country’s landmark elections. This is a significant development, marking a potential end to his Botswana Democratic Party’s (BDP) rule.
This marks the end of 58 years of rule for the party who ascended to power after from the UK.
The Botswana Democratic Party trails in fourth place in the parliamentary elections in what appeared to be a humbling rejection by voters and a landslide victory for the main opposition party.
The opposition Umbrella for Democratic Change held an overwhelming lead in the partial results, making its candidate, Duma Boko, the favorite to become president of a southern African country that is one of the world’s biggest producers of mined diamonds
Masisi’s concession comes as the BDP is on the verge of losing power, which would be a historic shift in Botswana’s political landscape.
It’s worth noting that Botswana has a reputation for holding free and fair elections, and this concession underscores the country’s commitment to democratic principles.
The 2024 Botswana general election took place on October 30, 2024, and incumbent President Mokgweetsi Masisi has conceded defeat. This election was significant as it marked a potential end to the Botswana Democratic Party’s (BDP) 58-year rule.
The BDP has held a majority of seats in the National Assembly since the country’s first election under universal suffrage in 1965.
The election saw 61 seats of the National Assembly and 609 local council seats up for grabs, all elected through the first-past-the-post voting system. The opposition parties, including the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) and the Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF), had formed alliances in an attempt to unseat the BDP.
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