Botswana’s main opposition party won an absolute majority in parliamentary elections on Friday, marking a historic rout for the ruling party since the country’s independence nearly 60 years ago.
The left-wing Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) coalition won at least 31 of the 61 seats in the House of Parliament, the southern African country’s electoral commission announced two days after the vote.
Its leader Duma Boko, a 54-year-old human rights lawyer, long-time opponent and Harvard graduate, was sworn in at the end of the day to become the next president.
Outgoing President Mokgweetsi Masisi confirmed the rare stability of Botswana’s democracy on the continent, recognizing his defeat early on Friday.
“I want to congratulate the opposition on its victory,” declared the head of state to the press. “We were completely wrong in the eyes of the people,” he admitted.
Mr. Masisi specified that he would work to “facilitate the transition”.
“We are completely happy to step down to become a loyal opposition that holds the government accountable,” elegantly added the 63-year-old leader, who also tweeted his congratulations to the opposition.
The economy of Botswana, known for its nature tourism and its largest population of elephants in the world, is mainly based on diamonds, which are increasingly competing with synthetic stones. Its sluggish growth is expected at 1% for 2024.
“I’m happy that there is change, even if we don’t see its effects right away,” street vendor Isaac Morapedi told AFP in the capital.
According to the latest partial results transmitted by local media on Friday, the UDC obtained 35 seats, ahead of the Botswana Congress Party (BCP, 14 seats), the Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF, 5) and Mr. Masisi’s BDP. (4).
The president-elect was sworn in in the afternoon before the country’s highest court. His start date has not yet been set.
More than a million people were invited to vote at the polls on Wednesday, out of a population of 2.6 million inhabitants.
