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Botswana Election Won by President’s Party, Despite Rift With Ex-Leader Botswana Election Won by President’s Party, Despite Rift With Ex-Leader
(about 8 hours later)
JOHANNESBURG — Voters in Botswana returned to power the party of President Mokgweetsi Masisi, the country’s chief justice announced on Friday, signaling public support for the president’s contentious decisions to lift a ban on hunting elephants and to oversee the decriminalization of homosexuality. JOHANNESBURG — Voters in Botswana returned to power the party of President Mokgweetsi Masisi, the country’s chief justice announced on Friday, a triumph for a leader who had made contentious decisions to lift a ban on hunting elephants and to oversee the decriminalization of homosexuality.
A diamond-rich country of just over two million people, Botswana has long been held up as one of Africa’s most stable democracies. A diamond-rich country of just over two million people, Botswana has long been held up as one of Africa’s most stable democracies. This election, held on Wednesday, was described by analysts as the country’s most fiercely contested yet, electrified by a clash between Mr. Masisi and his predecessor, Ian Khama, who broke with the party that has governed the country since independence.
Although the votes were still being counted, the chief Justice, Terrence Rannoane, said in a televised address that the partial results were sufficient to secure a parliamentary majority for Mr. Masisi’s Botswana Democratic Party. While votes were still being counted, the chief justice, Terrence Rannoane, said in a televised address that the partial results were sufficient to secure a parliamentary majority for Mr. Masisi’s Botswana Democratic Party.
Mr. Rannoane, who as chief justice also serves as the presiding officer for elections, did not provide any additional details about the results. Mr. Rannoane, who also serves as the presiding officer for elections, did not provide additional details about the results. But the governing party declared in a statement that it had won a “resounding victory,” claiming 38 out of the Parliament’s 57 directly elected seats, one more than in the previous election, in 2014.
The vote, held on Wednesday, was an endorsement of the Botswana Democratic Party, which has won every election in the country since 1966, when Botswana secured its independence from Britain, but which splintered early this year in a rift between Mr. Masisi and a former president, Ian Khama. The lawmakers in Parliament choose the country’s president, and in this case are expected to re-elect Mr. Masisi, the Botswana Democratic Party leader.
In the election, held on Wednesday, four blocs were vying for 61 seats in Parliament: Mr. Masisi’s Botswana Democratic Party; a large opposition coalition, the Umbrella for Democratic Change, which unites several smaller parties; and two newly formed opposition parties, the Botswana Patriotic Front and the Alliance for Progressives. The group with the most seats chooses the president. Keith Jefferis, an economist and political analyst, said the level of support that the governing party received among urban voters was notable.
Having maintained its majority in Parliament, the Botswana Democratic Party is expected to re-elect its leader, Mr. Masisi, as president. Opposition parties have previously dominated urban centers, but Mr. Masisi — who built his career in the nation’s capital — managed to sway young professionals there “in a way that none of us were really able to envisage,” Dr. Jefferis said.
The party’s unity had been weakened since Mr. Khama — a son of the Botswana independence leader Seretse Khama — defected from its ranks in May. The Botswana Democratic Party had suffered a split in May, when Mr. Khama — a son of Botswana’s independence leader, Seretse Khama — defected from its ranks, accusing Mr. Masisi of departing from its values. That included the government’s decision in May to lift a five-year ban on trophy hunting, including on elephants, a move that had been seen as popular among rural voters.
The younger Mr. Khama had accused Mr. Masisi, the party’s leader, of departing from its values. That included the government’s decision in May to lift a five-year ban on trophy hunting, including on elephants, a move that was popular among rural voters.
Botswana, home to the world’s largest elephant population, has one of the best wildlife records in Africa but has struggled to completely rein in the illegal ivory trade. Defending his decision to lift the ban, Mr. Masisi told voters that he was prioritizing the needs of his people over the wildlife valued by Western countries.Botswana, home to the world’s largest elephant population, has one of the best wildlife records in Africa but has struggled to completely rein in the illegal ivory trade. Defending his decision to lift the ban, Mr. Masisi told voters that he was prioritizing the needs of his people over the wildlife valued by Western countries.
Further departing from his predecessor’s policies, Mr. Masisi also endorsed a June court ruling that struck down colonial-era laws against homosexuality. Further departing from his predecessor’s policies, Mr. Masisi also endorsed a June court ruling that struck down colonial-era laws against homosexuality. The decision was unpopular in many rural constituencies.
Diamonds are also a source of debate. Botswana is the world’s second largest producer of diamonds, after Russia, and the gems are a major contributor to its economy.Diamonds are also a source of debate. Botswana is the world’s second largest producer of diamonds, after Russia, and the gems are a major contributor to its economy.
The government jointly owns the world’s most valuable diamond mining company with De Beers; that contract, up for renewal in 2021, was a major issue in the elections, with Duma Boko, the human rights lawyer who leads the Umbrella for Democratic Change, vowing to seek “much fairer and more equitable terms” for Botswana. The government jointly owns the world’s most valuable diamond mining company with De Beers, and that contract, which is up for renewal in 2021, was a major issue in the election campaign. Duma Boko, the human rights lawyer who leads the Umbrella for Democratic Change, an opposition coalition, had vowed to seek “much fairer and more equitable terms” for Botswana.
Mr. Masisi came to power last year, after Ian Khama served two terms as president. Although Mr. Khama had handpicked Mr. Masisi as his successor, the two leaders diverged on key policy issues and fell out after Mr. Masisi fired the country’s intelligence chief. Mr. Masisi came to power last year after Mr. Khama served two terms as president. Although Mr. Khama had handpicked Mr. Masisi as his successor, the two leaders diverged on key policy issues and fell out after Mr. Masisi fired the country’s intelligence chief.
In retaliation, Mr. Khama — known for shirking media interviews during his own presidency — publicly criticized Mr. Masisi.In retaliation, Mr. Khama — known for shirking media interviews during his own presidency — publicly criticized Mr. Masisi.
The former leader also threw his support behind a recently formed opposition party, the Botswana Patriotic Front, diluting the governing party’s majority. He also encouraged voters to support the Umbrella for Democratic Change, which was once his bitter political rival. The former leader also threw his support behind the Botswana Patriotic Front, a newly formed party, diluting the governing party’s majority. And he encouraged voters to back the Umbrella for Democratic Change, which was once his bitter political rival.
Mr. Khama, a retired army general, had also alienated party members during his time as president, from 2008 to 2018. His predecessor, Festus Mogae, told the local news media that the leader was a “disappointment,” prone to “tantrums” if he did not get his way.Mr. Khama, a retired army general, had also alienated party members during his time as president, from 2008 to 2018. His predecessor, Festus Mogae, told the local news media that the leader was a “disappointment,” prone to “tantrums” if he did not get his way.
Despite the tensions among politicians, however, voting on Wednesday was peaceful. In some districts, polling hours were extended as voters lined up. Ahead of the poll, an Afrobarometer survey showed fears that the political infighting would distract from more pressing issues like the economy. Despite the tensions among politicians, voting on Wednesday was peaceful. In some districts, polling hours were extended as voters lined up. Ahead of the poll, an Afrobarometer survey showed fears that the political infighting would distract from more pressing issues like the economy.
Now with a mandate to govern, Mr. Masisi is likely to concentrate on growing Botswana’s economy, where the prosperity of the country’s rich diamond fields has not trickled down to the population of 2.2 million. Botswana has an unemployment rate of 18 percent, and more than a third of young people are without work. Now with a mandate to govern, Mr. Masisi is likely to concentrate on expanding Botswana’s economy, where the prosperity of the country’s rich diamond fields has not trickled down to the general population. Botswana has an unemployment rate of 18 percent, and more than a third of young people are without work.