In a landmark shift, Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Masisi has conceded defeat, marking an end to the Botswana Democratic Party’s (BDP) nearly 58-year reign. The BDP, which has governed since Botswana’s independence in 1966, has lost its majority in parliament, slipping to fourth place in the results from Wednesday’s general election.
At a press conference in Gaborone on Friday, Masisi admitted that the BDP had failed to connect with voters. “We got it wrong big time in the eyes of the people,” he acknowledged, expressing his awareness of the public’s dissatisfaction with the ruling party’s message. Masisi, who had been seeking a second term in office, added, “We were really convinced of our message. But every indication, by any measure, is that there’s no way that I can pretend that we’re going to form a government.”
Following this admission, President Masisi announced his decision to step aside and congratulated the opposition on their historic win. “I wish to congratulate the opposition on their victory and concede the election,” he stated, signaling a new era for Botswana’s leadership. Official confirmation from the electoral commission is expected later on Friday, which will solidify the BDP’s departure from power after 58 years.
As reported by Al Jazeera, Botswana’s electoral system grants victory to the party that secures at least 31 of the 61 parliamentary seats, allowing its presidential candidate to form a government. The BDP had long been anticipated to retain its grip on power in the diamond-rich country. However, partial election results revealed a strong lead by the main opposition party, the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), making its leader, Duma Boko, the likely next president.
President Masisi personally called Boko to concede defeat after the UDC captured 25 seats, nearing the 31-seat threshold required for victory. Boko, a 54-year-old human rights lawyer who founded the UDC in 2012 to unite opposition factions against the BDP, took to Facebook, proclaiming, “CHANGE IS HERE,” as celebrations erupted across parts of Gaborone. This election marked his third attempt at the presidency, following runs in 2014 and 2019.
The partial results also showed that other opposition parties made significant gains: the Botswana Congress Party secured seven seats, the Botswana Patriotic Front took five, while the BDP trailed with only three seats, marking its first-ever electoral defeat.
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