2024 Botswana general election

2024 Botswana general election
← 2019 30 October 2024
61 of the 69 seats in the National Assembly[n 2]
31 seats needed for a majority
Registered1,038,275 Increase 12.19%[n 1]
Turnout81.42% (Decrease2.73pp)
  First party Second party
 
Leader Duma Boko Dumelang Saleshando
Party UDC BCP
Leader's seat Did not stand Maun North
Last election 35.88%, 15 seats 11 seats[n 4]
Seats before 8[n 3] 7
Seats won 36 15
Seat change Increase 28 Increase 8
Popular vote 310,862 175,326
Percentage 37.22% 20.99%
Swing Increase 1.34pp new
  Third party Fourth party
 
BPF
Leader Mephato Reatile Mokgweetsi Masisi
Party BPF BDP
Leader's seat Jwaneng-Mabutsane (defeated) None[n 5]
Last election 4.41%, 3 seats 52.65%, 38 seats
Seats before 4 38[n 6]
Seats won 5 4
Seat change Increase 1 Decrease 34
Popular vote 69,414 254,632
Percentage 8.31% 30.49%
Swing Increase 3.90pp Decrease 22.16pp
Winning party shaded by vote share in each constituency
President before election

Mokgweetsi Masisi
BDP

Elected President

Duma Boko
UDC

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General elections were held in Botswana on 30 October 2024 to determine the composition of the 13th Parliament of Botswana as well as local councils across the country. Up for election were 61 seats of the National Assembly as well as 609 local council seats, all elected through the first-past-the-post voting system.

The election saw the end of 58 years of single-party governance by the centre-right Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), which had led the country since independence in 1966. The BDP was decisively beaten by the centre-left opposition Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC). Large voter swings toward opposition parties led to the BDP falling to fourth place.[4][5][6]

The UDC took first place with 36 seats, a majority of five. This ensured Duma Boko, leader of both the UDC and its largest component, the Botswana National Front (BNF), would be elected as President of Botswana. The Botswana Congress Party (BCP) took second place, becoming the official opposition.[7] The Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) achieved significant growth in the Central District, increasing its number of seats. The BDP was reduced to a rump of four seats, suffering one of the worst defeats of a sitting government in the Commonwealth.

Incumbent president Mokgweetsi Masisi conceded defeat on the morning of 1 November 2024 and ensured a peaceful transfer of power.[8] Later that day, President Boko was sworn-in by Chief Justice Terence Rannowane, allowing him to form the first government since independence with no BDP participation.[9]

  1. ^ IEC Botswana (14 October 2024). "Media Release: Summary of Information on Total Number of Botswana Registered to Vote in the 2024 General Elections". Facebook. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  2. ^ Tlhankane, Mompati (5 June 2023). "UDC accused of destabilising BCP". Mmegi. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  3. ^ "Minister Mthimkhulu passes on". Mmegi Online. 3 September 2024. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  4. ^ Ndebele, Lenin (31 October 2024). "Initial counting suggests Botswana may just get a new ruling party after 58 years". News24.
  5. ^ "Early Botswana Vote Tallies Point to Shock Loss For Ruling Party". Bloomberg.com. 31 October 2024. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
  6. ^ du Plessis, Carien (31 October 2024). "Botswana: Early election count sparks opposition optimism". The Africa Report.
  7. ^ "NEW REPUBLIC". Mmegi Online. 1 November 2024. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
  8. ^ "Botswana election: Duma Boko – the politician who did the unthinkable". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
  9. ^ "Duma Boko sworn in as Botswana's new president". www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved 1 November 2024.


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