His party, the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) has ruled the diamond-rich country since independence from Britain in 1966.
People queue to cast their ballot at a polling station during Botswanas general election, in Gaborone on October 30, 2024. – Diamond-rich Botswana went to the polls on October 30, 2024 with voters concerned about high unemployment and an economic slump as the ruling party vies to extend its nearly six decades in power and hand President Mokgweetsi Masisi a second term. Many of the one million registered voters queued for several hours to cast their ballots in the arid and sparsely populated country, which prides itself on being southern Africa’s oldest democracy, but where the same party has been in power since independence in 1966. (Photo by Monirul Bhuiyan / AFP)
Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi said Friday he would “step aside” after his party suffered a resounding defeat in general elections, according to preliminary tallies.
Botswana President and presidential candidate for Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) Mokgweetsi Masisi (C) looks on as the officials check the documents of his presidential nomination at the Botswana High Court in Gaborone on September 28, 2024 ahead of Botswana’s general election scheduled for October 30, 2024. (Photo by Monirul Bhuiyan / AFP)
“I wish to congratulate the opposition on their victory and concede the election,” Masisi told reporters at a press conference, adding it had been “a good journey”.
Results from Wednesday’s vote are expected to be confirmed by the electoral commission later Friday, but early counts showed that three opposition parties had together won at least 31 of 61 seats in the national legislature.Under Botswana’s electoral system, the first party to take 31 seats will be declared the winner and install its candidate as president.
Masisi, who took office in 2018 said he would “begin all administrative work to facilitate the transition.”“We are quite happy to retreat into being a loyal opposition and to hold the government accountable,” said the 63-year-old leader who had been confident of securing a second term.
Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) supporters cheer at a counting centre in Gaborone on October 31, 2024. Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi’s party suffered a resounding defeat in general elections, according to preliminary tallies on November 1, 2024, losing its nearly six-decade grip on power of the diamond-rich country. (Photo by Monirul Bhuiyan / AFP)
The left-leaning opposition Umbrella for Democratic Change secured more than 24 seats, party official Mike Keakopa told AFP, and was aiming to reach 31 seats to become the outright winner.
Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) supporters cheer in the streets in the early hours in Gaborone on November 1, 2024, 2024. – Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi’s party suffered a resounding defeat in general elections, according to preliminary tallies on November 1, 2024, losing its nearly six-decade grip on power of the diamond-rich country. (Photo by Monirul Bhuiyan / AFP)
If confirmed, its candidate, the Harvard-educated human rights lawyer Duma Boko would be the next president.The two other opposition parties, the Botswana Congress Party and Botswana Patriotic Front took around a dozen seats together.
