Botswana’s upcoming national election on October 30: Economic challenges loom for Ruling Party

Botswana’s national election is scheduled for October 30, featuring President Mokgweetsi Masisi as the leading candidate against three main opponents. The Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), led by Masisi, is the incumbent party in power.

In Botswana, voters elect members of the National Assembly, who subsequently select the president. Here’s an overview of the key candidates:

Mokgweetsi Masisi

Mokgweetsi Masisi assumed the presidency in 2018 after serving as vice president under Ian Khama and was re-elected in 2019. Now 63 years old, Masisi has a background as a schoolteacher and has worked with UNICEF prior to his political career.

His first term has been marked by economic difficulties, including high unemployment rates and a decline in global diamond demand, which is a crucial sector for Botswana’s economy.

Masisi has gained support by negotiating a new sales agreement with De Beers, allowing Botswana to receive a larger share of diamond revenues. However, critics contend that he has failed to sufficiently diversify the economy or create jobs.

He is currently engaged in a public feud with former President Khama, who has accused him of authoritarian practices and is now backing an opposition party.

Duma Boko

Duma Boko, 54, is a lawyer and the leader of the opposition coalition Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC). This marks his third run for office, and the UDC remains the most formidable opposition to the BDP, having finished second in the 2019 elections.

Boko’s platform calls for greater government involvement in the economy to foster social development and sustainable growth. He previously challenged the results of the 2019 elections in court, but the case was dismissed.

Dumelang Saleshando

Dumelang Saleshando, 53, is the leader of the Botswana Congress Party (BCP), which has historically received between 10 percent and 20 percent of the votes in past elections. Saleshando took over leadership from his father in 2010 and campaigns under the slogan “Save Botswana,” promoting social democratic values.

Mephato Reatile

Mephato Reatile leads the Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF), a party formed in 2019 by former BDP members loyal to Khama, who left the BDP due to disagreements with Masisi. Khama, the son of Botswana’s founding president, recently returned from a three-year exile to support the BPF in this election.

The BPF garnered approximately 4 percent of the vote in 2019.

These candidates embody various visions for Botswana’s future, with key issues such as economic diversification, unemployment, and governance taking center stage.