Botswana’s Presidential Election: A Look at the Four Candidates
The upcoming presidential election in Botswana is set to be the most competitive in the country’s history. The Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) has been in power since independence in 1966 and its candidate, Mokgweetsi Masisi, is seen as the frontrunner.
With over one million registered voters in the country, the election on October 30 will see four presidential candidates vying for the top spot.
Mokgweetsi Masisi
Mokgweetsi Masisi, a former school teacher educated in the US, was handpicked by Ian Khama to succeed him in 2018. He won the 2019 elections with 52% of the vote. During his first term, Masisi made controversial decisions such as lifting the ban on trophy hunting and dismissing key allies of Khama, leading to a public feud. The economy suffered under his leadership, with unemployment reaching 25%. Masisi, 63, has focused on strengthening ties with China and aligning with Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Duma Boko
Duma Boko, a human rights lawyer and leader of the Botswana National Front, is the presidential candidate for the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), the main opposition alliance. The UDC garnered nearly 36% of the vote in 2019 and focuses on job creation and election transparency. Despite contesting the election results in 2019, their case was dismissed.
Mephato Reatile
Mephato Reatile, 57, leads the Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF), a party formed by supporters of Ian Khama after his resignation from the BDP in 2019. The party secured four percent of the votes in the subsequent elections and is expected to perform better this year. However, the BPF’s influence is primarily regional, and Reatile is seen as a close ally of Khama.
Dumelang Saleshando
Dumelang Saleshando, 53, heads the Botswana Congress Party (BCP), a social democratic group that was part of the UDC but left in 2023 due to internal issues. The party secured 15% of the vote in 2019, contributing to the opposition’s prospects in the election.
As the presidential election draws near, Botswana’s political landscape is set for a significant shift with these four candidates vying for the top position. Voters will have the opportunity to choose the leader who they believe will lead the country into a new era of growth and development.
