GABORONE, Botswana — Polls opened in an election in Botswana on Wednesday and a rustic was set to resolve if considered one of Africa’s longest-ruling events stays in energy for one more five-year time period.
The Botswana Democratic Social gathering has been in energy within the southern African nation for 58 years since independence from Britain in 1966. The one-day election will resolve the make-up of Parliament and lawmakers will later elect the president.
President Mokgweetsi Masisi, a 63-year-old former highschool trainer and United Nations worker, is searching for a second and last time period.
Botswana has been held up as considered one of Africa’s success tales as a peaceable and steady democracy with among the best requirements of residing within the area, however it’s dealing with new financial challenges which have pushed the BDP to concede that coverage change is required.
That is largely due to a world downturn in demand for diamonds, which Botswana’s financial system depends on. Unemployment within the nation of some 2.5 million individuals has risen to 27% this yr, and it is considerably greater for younger individuals.
The BDP says it has listened to the considerations of voters and is open to coverage adjustments that might diversify an financial system the place diamonds account for greater than 80% of Botswana’s exports and 1 / 4 of the GDP, in line with the World Financial institution.
Three males have registered to problem Masisi for president: Duma Boko of the primary opposition Umbrella for Democratic Change occasion, Dumelang Saleshando of the Botswana Congress Social gathering and Mephato Reatile from the Botswana Patriotic Entrance.
Counting is anticipated to begin straight after polls shut Wednesday night and the outcomes may very well be introduced inside days.
Whereas the BDP has dominated Botswanan politics since independence, current financial uncertainty has closed the hole between it and the opposition, analysts say.
Botswana is the second largest producer of diamonds behind Russia and has been answerable for all the most important tough gems discovered up to now decade. However gross sales of tough diamonds at Debswana, the corporate the Botswana authorities collectively owns with the De Beers Group and a essential supply of state income, had been down almost 50% within the first half of 2024, in line with authorities. That has put a dent within the public purse and raised criticism of Masisi and the BDP for not taking steps to diversify the financial system.
Authorities staff have obtained their salaries late on account of the tight monetary place, taking the shine off of Botswana’s fame for environment friendly authorities.
Forward of the election, the BDP mentioned it could now put emphasis on processing mineral sources for brand new income streams, whereas additionally constructing the agriculture and tourism sectors.
Simply over one million individuals have registered to vote, in line with the Unbiased Electoral Fee. Botswana is bigger than France however has a small inhabitants, with the Kalahari Desert masking massive parts of the landlocked nation that borders South Africa. Drought and desertification threaten Botswana’s growth and the livelihoods of a lot of its individuals.
The election may additionally revive Masisi’s feud with former President Ian Khama, the person he succeeded as Botswana’s chief after which fell out with.
Khama, the son of Botswana’s founding president, give up the BDP and went into exile in South Africa in 2021, accusing Masisi of taking an authoritarian strategy to criticism. Khama was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and receiving stolen property in a felony case he mentioned was politically motivated to silence him.
Khama returned to Botswana in September to attend a courtroom listening to and has campaigned for the Botswana Patriotic Entrance in an try and oust Masisi.
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AP Africa information: https://apnews.com/hub/africa
