Botswana is ready for its first change of governing get together in 58 years after president Mokgweetsi Masisi conceded defeat within the basic election.
Mr Masisi’s Botswana Democratic Social gathering (BDP), which had held energy within the southern African nation since independence from Britain in 1966, was in fourth place within the parliamentary elections, after successful three of the 61 seats obtainable.
He conceded defeat on Friday morning, earlier than closing outcomes had been introduced, signalling a victory for the opposition Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), which had taken 25 seats to that time, needing 31 seats to clinch a majority.
Picture:
Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) presidential candidate Duma Boko voting within the capital, Gaborone. Pic: AP
Minor events held 12 seats, leaving the BDP with no path to a majority after a humbling rejection by voters.
Mr Masisi stated he had referred to as Duma Boko, the UDC’s presidential candidate, and informed him he was now successfully the president-elect.
“I concede the election,” Mr Masisi stated in an early-morning press convention two days after the vote.
“I am proud of our democratic processes. Although I wanted a second term, I will respectfully step aside and participate in a smooth transition process.”
He promised to assist his successor and stated he was even trying ahead to being at his inauguration.
Mr Masisi’s BDP dominated politics in Botswana, one of many world’s largest producers of mined diamonds, for almost six a long time, because the finish of colonial rule.
The nation of simply 2.5 million folks will now be ruled by one other get together for the primary time in its democratic historical past.
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One in all Africa’s most steady democracies, Botswana is seen as a post-colonial success story having constructed one of many highest requirements of residing within the area by way of an economic system that largely depends on diamonds.
Botswana is the world’s second largest pure diamond producer behind Russia and has been liable for all thebiggest diamonds discovered within the final decade.
However a downturn within the international demand for the dear stones has broken the economic system, resulting in 27% unemployment which has been considerably greater for younger folks.
Financial hardships dominated the marketing campaign, because the BDP was criticised for not having carried out sufficient to diversify the economic system, forcing it to undertake current austerity measures.
Diamonds account for greater than 80% of Botswana’s exports and 1 / 4 of its GDP, in response to the World Financial institution.
Mr Boko, 54, posted on his official web page on X: “Botswana First” with an image of a UDC marketing campaign poster.
The BDP was one of many longest-serving events in Africa nonetheless in energy and its landslide defeat got here as a shock just like that in its neighbour, South Africa, the place the African Nationwide Congress misplaced its majority for the primary time in 30 years in Might.
