GABORONE, Botswana — Polls opened in a nationwide election in Botswana on Wednesday as voters determine if one among Africa’s longest-ruling events stays in energy for one more five-year time period.
The Botswana Democratic Occasion has ruled the southern African nation for 58 years, since independence from Britain in 1966. The election will decide the make-up of Parliament and lawmakers will later elect the president.
President Mokgweetsi Masisi, a 63-year-old former highschool trainer who additionally beforehand labored for UNICEF, is looking for a second and last time period.
Botswana has been held up as one among Africa’s success tales — a peaceable and steady democracy with the most effective requirements of dwelling within the area — however is dealing with new financial challenges which have pushed the ruling social gathering to concede that coverage change is required.
That is largely due to a worldwide downturn in demand for diamonds, which Botswana’s economic system depends on. Unemployment within the nation of some 2.5 million individuals has risen to 27% this yr, and is considerably greater for younger individuals.
The ruling social gathering says it has listened to the issues of voters and can pursue adjustments that would diversify an economic system the place diamonds account for greater than 80% of Botswana’s exports and 1 / 4 of the GDP, in response to the World Financial institution. One in every of its marketing campaign slogans has been “Altering Collectively, Constructing Prosperity.”
On the eve of the election, Masisi held a boisterous last marketing campaign rally within the capital, Gaborone, carrying a brilliant pink swimsuit jacket — the colour of his social gathering — and dancing with supporters.
Three different males are difficult Masisi for president: Duma Boko of the principle opposition Umbrella for Democratic Change social gathering, Dumelang Saleshando of the Botswana Congress Occasion and Mephato Reatile from the Botswana Patriotic Entrance.
Counting is anticipated to start out straight after polls shut Wednesday night and the outcomes may very well be introduced inside days.
“We’re involved about problems with employment and wage buildings,” mentioned Karabo Manguba, a 29-year-old gross sales government at a radio station who voted early within the morning. “Voting is a patriotic effort … and our voices have to be heard.”
Whereas the Botswana Democratic Occasion has dominated the nation’s politics since independence, latest financial uncertainty has closed the hole between the BDP and the opposition, analysts say.
Botswana is the second largest producer of diamonds, behind Russia, and has been accountable for all the most important tough gems discovered previously decade.
However gross sales of tough diamonds at Debswana, the corporate that Botswana’s authorities collectively owns with the De Beers Group and a important supply of state income, have been down practically 50% within the first half of 2024, in response to 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 economic system.
Authorities workers have acquired their salaries late on account of the tight monetary state of affairs, taking the shine off of Botswana’s popularity for environment friendly authorities.
Forward of the election, the BDP mentioned it might now put emphasis on processing mineral sources for brand new income streams, whereas additionally constructing the agriculture and tourism sectors.
Simply over 1,000,000 individuals have registered to vote, in response to the Impartial 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 lots 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, stop the BDP and went into exile in South Africa in 2021, accusing Masisi of taking an authoritarian method 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 to oust Masisi.
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AP Africa information: https://apnews.com/hub/africa
