List of general elections in Botswana

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Botswana is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. Since its independence from the United Kingdom as Bechuanaland on September 30, 1966, [1] [2] Botswana has been a parliamentary republic with a dominant party, namely the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), previously called the Bechuanaland Democratic Party. [3] [4] [5] The first president to govern Botswana was Sir Seretse Khama. [6] The country has had 13 formal general elections since 1961, [7] with one happening every five years. [8] The 2024 election is expected to happen in October. [9] Each president is entitled to two five-year terms; Quett Masire, the second president, created Botswana’s term limit in 1997. [10] [11] [12] [13] The country first adopted universal franchise during the 1965 Bechuanaland general election. [14]

Botswana's parliament as of April 2024. Botswana National Assembly 2022.svg
Botswana’s parliament as of April 2024.

Every election has been won by the BDP. [16] [17] However, recent elections have shown that support for the BDP is declining, and opposition parties have started getting more support. Opinion polls in 2022 conducted by Afrobarometer showed that 29.4% of people surveyed would vote for a main opposition party, the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), if elections were held the next day, compared to the BDP’s 22.3%, [18] showing signs of instability towards Botswana’s dominant party system. [19]

The president of Botswana is selected after the general election. For this process, the presidential candidate from the political party that wins a majority of the seats is sworn in as president. [20]

Summary

The table below excludes European Advisory Council elections as members were elected by European residents, not citizens of the Protectorate themselves. [21] [22] Bechuanaland citizens also did not get to participate in the British Administration. [22]

List of general elections in Botswana
ElectionWinnerRunner-upSeats won by other candidatesSeats available to be wonVoter turnoutReference(s)
PartySeats wonPartySeats won
1961 n/a [lower-alpha 1] n/an/an/an/an/an/a [23]
1965 BDP 28 BPP 303174.55% [14] [23] [24]
1969 BDP 24 BNF 343154.7% [25] [24]
1974 BDP 27 BNF 233231.2% [24] [26]
1979 BDP 29 BNF 213258.4% [24] [27]
1984 BDP 29 BNF 413477.6% [24] [28]
1989 BDP 31 BNF 303468.2% [24] [29] [30]
1994 BDP 27 BNF 1304076.6% [24] [31] [32]
1999 BDP 33 BNF 614077.11% [24] [33] [34]
2004 BDP 44 BNF 1215776.2% [24] [35] [36]
2009 BDP 45 BNF 665776.71% [24] [36] [37] [38]
2014 BDP 37 UDC 1735784.75% [36] [39] [40]
2019 BDP 38 UDC 1545784.1% [41] [36]
2024 Election expected to happen in October 2024.61 [9] [42] [43]
  1. ↑ Seretse Khama was announced as the winner of the 1961 election.

Related Research Articles

The Batswana, a term also used to denote all citizens of Botswana, refers to the country's major ethnic group. Prior to European contact, the Batswana lived as herders and farmers under tribal rule.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Politics of Botswana</span> Political system of Botswana

Botswana is a parliamentary republic in which the President of Botswana is both head of state and head of government. The nation's politics are based heavily on British parliamentary politics and on traditional Batswana chiefdom. The legislature is made up of the unicameral National Assembly and the advisory body of tribal chiefs, the Ntlo ya Dikgosi. The National Assembly chooses the president, but once in office the president has significant authority over the legislature with only limited separation of powers. The Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) rules as a dominant party; while elections are considered free and fair by observers, the BDP has controlled the National Assembly since independence. Political opposition often exists between factions in the BDP rather than through separate parties, though several opposition parties exist and regularly hold a small number of seats in the National Assembly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">President of Botswana</span> Head of state and government of Botswana

The president of the Republic of Botswana is the head of state and the head of government of Botswana, as well as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, according to the Constitution of Botswana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Botswana Democratic Party</span> Dominant political party in Botswana

The Botswana Democratic Party is the governing party in Botswana. Its chairman is the Vice-President of Botswana, Slumber Tsogwane, and its symbol is a lift jack. The party has ruled Botswana continuously since gaining independence from the United Kingdom in 1966. The BDP is sometimes classified as a paternalistic conservative party and is also a consultative member of the Socialist International since 2014, which is a group including many worldwide social-democratic parties.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Quett Masire</span> President of Botswana from 1980 to 1998

Ketumile Quett Joni Masire, GCMG, was the second and longest-serving president of Botswana, in office from 1980 to 1998. He was given an honorary knighthood of the Grand Cross of Saint Michael and Saint George by Queen Elizabeth II (GCMG) in 1991.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seretse Khama</span> First President of Botswana (1921–1980)

Sir Seretse Goitsebeng Maphiri Khama, GCB, KBE was a Botswana politician who served as the first President of Botswana, a post he held from 1966 to his death in 1980.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elections in Botswana</span> Political elections for public offices in Botswana

Elections in Botswana take place within the framework of a multi-party democracy and a parliamentary system. The National Assembly is mostly directly elected, and in turn elects the President and some of its own members. The Ntlo ya Dikgosi is a mixture of appointed, hereditary and indirectly elected members.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Botswana People's Party</span> Political party in Botswana

The Botswana People's Party (BPP), originally the Bechuanaland People's Party, is a political party in Botswana formed in December 1960 during the colonial era. As a result of disappointment with the Legislative Council, under the leadership of Kgalemang T. Motsete, an accomplished music composer and educationist, BPP became the first mass party to agitate for full independence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Assembly of Botswana</span> Botswanas national unicameral legislature

The National Assembly is the sole legislative body of Botswana's unicameral Parliament, of which consists of the President and the National Assembly. The House passes laws, provides ministers to form Cabinet, and supervises the work of government. It is also responsible for adopting the country's budgets. It is advised by the Ntlo ya Dikgosi, a council of tribal chiefs which is not a house of Parliament.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1994 Botswana general election</span>

General elections were held in Botswana on 15 October 1994, alongside simultaneous local elections. The result was a victory for the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), which had won every election since 1965. However, the elections also saw a strong performance from the Botswana National Front (BNF), which tripled its number of MPs and won all four seats in the capital Gaborone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mompati Merafhe</span> 6th vice-president of Botswana from 2008 to 2012

Mompati Sebogodi Merafhe was a Botswana politician who was Vice-President of Botswana from 2008 to 2012. He was a retired Lieutenant-General and served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1994 to 2008.

Moutlakgola Palgrave Kediretswe Nwako was a former politician and diplomat in Botswana. Nwako served as the first foreign minister from 1966-1969. He was Speaker of the National Assembly of Botswana from 1989 to 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ian Khama</span> Fourth president of Botswana from 2008 to 2018

Seretse Khama Ian Khama is a Botswana politician and former military officer who was the fourth President of the Republic of Botswana from 1 April 2008 to 1 April 2018. After serving as Commander of the Botswana Defence Force, he entered politics and was Vice-President of Botswana from 1998 to 2008, then succeeded Festus Mogae as President on 1 April 2008. He won a full term in the 2009 election and was re-elected in October 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1984 Botswana general election</span>

General elections were held in Botswana on 8 September 1984. Although the result was a fifth successive landslide victory for the Botswana Democratic Party, which won 29 of the 34 elected seats, the elections saw the opposition Botswana National Front make gains, winning both seats in the capital Gaborone and take control of all urban councils except Selebi-Phikwe in the simultaneous local elections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1965 Bechuanaland general election</span>

General elections were held in the Bechuanaland Protectorate on 1 March 1965, the country's first election under universal suffrage. The result was a landslide victory for the Bechuanaland Democratic Party, with Seretse Khama becoming Prime Minister. Following the elections, the country became independent as Botswana on 30 September 1966, at which point Khama became President.

Gaolese Kent Koma was a Botswana politician and businessman. He served in the National Assembly as Member of Parliament for Mahalapye village from 1965 to 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gladys Olebile Masire</span>

Gladys Molefi Olebile Masire was a Botswana teacher and political figure who served as the longest ruling First Lady of Botswana from 1980 until 1998.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 Botswana general election</span>

General elections were held in Botswana on 23 October 2019 to elect MPs and local government councillors. Despite a high profile split in the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) in May 2019 when former President Ian Khama left the party and switched his support to the new Botswana Patriotic Front, the BDP's vote share increased to almost 53% as the party won 38 of the 57 elected seats in the National Assembly, a gain of one compared to the 2014 elections. The elections were the twelfth straight victory for the BDP.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bathoen Gaseitsiwe</span> Politician and jurist from Botswana (1908–1990)

Bathoen Seepapitso Gaseitsiwe also known as Bathoen II was a Motswana Kgosi, jurist and politician who served as Chief of the Bangwaketse from 1928 to 1969. He served as Chairman of the Botswana National Front (BNF) from 1966 to 1985, Leader of the Opposition from 1969 to 1984 and President of the Court of Appeal from 1985 until his death in 1990. He represented the Kanye South constituency in the National Assembly for three consecutive terms. As the leader of the BNF, the then second largest political party in the country, he was the main opponent of the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) government, led by Seretse Khama and Quett Masire, during the first two decades of the African country's independence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Serowe North</span> Parliamentary constituency in the Central District of Botswana, 1965–2004

Serowe North was a constituency in Central District represented by an MP in the National Assembly of Botswana from 1965 to 2004. In the 2002 redistribution it was dissolved by being divided into two constituencies: Serowe North East and Serowe North West.

References

  1. ↑ "Botswana". Encyclopaedia Britannica. Britannica. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  2. ↑ "Botswana National Day". www.state.gov. United States Department Of State. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  3. ↑ "www.cia.gov". cia.gov. CIA. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  4. ↑ "History of Botswana | Events, People, Dates, Maps, & Facts | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2024-05-08.
  5. ↑ "Cambridge University". Cambridge.org. Cambridge. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  6. ↑ "Sir Seretse Khama | Botswana Leader, Independence & Legacy | Britannica". www.britannica.com. 2024-04-26. Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  7. ↑ "65. Botswana (1966-present)". UCA. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  8. ↑ "Botswana at a Glance | Embassy of the Republic of Botswana in Washington, D.C." www.botswanaembassy.org. Retrieved 2024-05-08.
  9. 1 2 "Africa Center". africacenter.org. Africa Center for Strategic Studies. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  10. ↑ "Botswana: Freedom in the World 2023 Country Report". Freedom House. Retrieved 2024-04-27.
  11. ↑ Chan, Stephen (2017-07-18). "Ketumile Masire obituary". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 2024-05-08.
  12. ↑ Padnani, Amisha (2017-06-29). "Ketumile Masire, Who Shaped and Led a Vibrant Botswana, Dies at 91". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2024-05-03.
  13. ↑ "History". www.parliament.gov.bw. Retrieved 2024-05-08.
  14. 1 2 "EISA Botswana: The 1965 Pre-Independence General Election". 2023-04-27. Archived from the original on 2023-04-27. Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  15. ↑ "Botswana" . Retrieved 2024-05-04.
  16. ↑ Warren, Shana. "Botswana's ruling party has been in power 50 years. That could change this week". Washington Post. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  17. ↑ "Analysis | Botswana's ruling party won again. This makes 12 consecutive victories". Washington Post. 2019-11-06. ISSN   0190-8286 . Retrieved 2024-05-08.
  18. ↑ "www.afrobarometer.org" (PDF). Afrobarometer. p. 43. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  19. ↑ "The Downfall of the Botswana Democratic Party". The St Andrews Economist. 2022-10-21. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
  20. ↑ "Botswana 12/09". state.gov archives. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  21. ↑ "European And African Advisory Councils - Hansard - UK Parliament". UK Parliament. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  22. 1 2 R. D. Manungo, Kenneth. "The role of the Native Advisory Council in the Bechuanaland Protectorate, 1919-1960". Pula: Botswana Journal of African Studies, vol. 13, nos. 1 & 2 (1999). 13: 38. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  23. 1 2 "EISA Botswana: Late British colonialism (1945-1966)". 2023-04-27. Archived from the original on 2023-04-27. Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  24. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Elections in Botswana". africanelections.tripod.com. Retrieved 2024-04-30.
  25. ↑ Macartney, W.J.A. (1971). "The General Election of 1969". Botswana Notes and Records. 3: 33–34. ISSN   0525-5090. JSTOR   40979273 . Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  26. ↑ "EISA Botswana: The October 1974 General Election". 2020-04-12. Archived from the original on 2020-04-12. Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  27. ↑ "EISA Botswana: The October 1979 General Election". 2021-04-10. Archived from the original on 2021-04-10. Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  28. ↑ Retrieved 12 May 2024 http://archive.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/arc/BOTSWANA_1984_E.PDF
  29. ↑ "EISA Botswana: The October 1989 General Election". 2020-08-30. Archived from the original on 2020-08-30. Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  30. ↑ "BOTSWANA: parliamentary elections National Assembly, 1989". archive.ipu.org. Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  31. ↑ "BOTSWANA: parliamentary elections National Assembly, 1994". archive.ipu.org. Retrieved 2024-04-29.
  32. ↑ "EISA Botswana: The October 1994 General Election". 2020-03-17. Archived from the original on 2020-03-17. Retrieved 2024-04-29.
  33. ↑ "BOTSWANA: parliamentary elections National Assembly, 1999". archive.ipu.org. Retrieved 2024-04-30.
  34. ↑ "EISA Botswana: The October 1999 General Election". 2013-10-02. Archived from the original on 2013-10-02. Retrieved 2024-04-30.
  35. ↑ "IPU PARLINE database: BOTSWANA (National Assembly), Elections in 2004". archive.ipu.org. Retrieved 2024-04-30.
  36. 1 2 3 4 "IFES Election Guide | Country Profile: Botswana". www.electionguide.org. Retrieved 2024-05-08.
  37. ↑ Retrieved 12 May 2024. https://archive.today/20140926164322/http://www.iec.gov.bw/index.php/election-results#
  38. ↑ "EISA Botswana: 2009 National Assembly election results". 2022-11-16. Archived from the original on 2022-11-16. Retrieved 2024-04-30.
  39. ↑ "2014 General Elections Report" (PDF). pp. 30–31. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  40. ↑ "Wayback Machine" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2024-04-30.
  41. ↑ "IFES Election Guide | Elections: Botswana Parliament 2019". www.electionguide.org. Retrieved 2024-05-08.
  42. ↑ "Election Calendar | EISA". www.eisa.org. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
  43. ↑ Mathala, Sharon (2023-02-15). "Four new constituencies come 2024". Mmegi Online. Retrieved 2024-05-07.
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