Botswana’s Ruling Party Loses Power After 58 Years

Botswana’s ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) faced a significant defeat in the recent general elections, marking the end of its nearly six-decade dominance.

Preliminary results indicate that opposition parties secured 31 out of 61 seats in the national legislature, effectively sidelining President Mokgweetsi Masisi’s BDP, which has only claimed a single seat thus far.

The Independent Electoral Commission is set to confirm these results, which come after a vote that saw over a million registered voters expressing their discontent with high unemployment and alleged mismanagement during Masisi’s first term.

The left-leaning Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), led by human rights lawyer Duma Boko, emerged as a major force, winning 19 seats, followed by the Botswana Congress Party with seven and the Botswana Patriotic Front with five. With the threshold for victory set at 31 seats, the UDC’s success signals a historic shift in the nation’s governance.

Commentators noted that the UDC’s local council victories hinted at a broader national trend. “CHANGE IS HERE,” declared Boko on Facebook, as the call for fresh leadership resonates across the nation.

Voter dissatisfaction stemmed from escalating unemploymentno w at 27 percent and economic downturns linked to falling diamond sales, Botswana’s primary revenue source. Concerns over corruption and widening inequality further fueled calls for change.

As Botswana prepares for a new chapter, experts suggest that the incoming government must prioritize economic stabilization, job creation for youth, and reducing reliance on diamonds to foster sustainable growth.