The Botswana Democratic Social gathering stays the favourite regardless of sluggish financial progress attributable to falling demand for diamonds.
Botswana is voting in a basic election with President Mokgweetsi Masisi searching for a second time period and his ruling get together hoping to increase its almost six many years in energy.
Masisi, 63, will compete on Wednesday in opposition to three rivals for an additional five-year time period. His Botswana Democratic Social gathering (BDP), which has dominated the nation of two.3 million folks for 58 years since its independence from British rule in 1966, stays the favourite regardless of its waning recognition.
The BDP faces a divided opposition and its largest problem comes from the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), a coalition led by lawyer Duma Boko.
Additionally operating for president are Dumelang Saleshando of the Botswana Congress Social gathering and Mephato Reatile of the Botswana Patriotic Entrance.
The BDP, one in every of Africa’s oldest ruling events, retains its majority in parliament, having received 38 of the 57 seats contested in 2019.
Botswana is taken into account one of the crucial steady nations in Africa, however faces financial challenges because of the world decline in demand for diamonds, on which it relies upon. It’s the second largest producer of diamonds after Russia.
The nation has struggled to diversify its financial system. Unemployment has risen to 27 % this yr and is considerably larger amongst younger folks.
The BDP says it has listened to voters’ considerations and can search for new sources of earnings, such because the processing of mineral sources and the event of the agricultural and tourism sectors.
Certainly one of his marketing campaign slogans has been “Change collectively, construct prosperity.”
The polls opened at 6:30 am (04:30 GMT) for a couple of million folks registered to vote. The election will decide the composition of parliament after which lawmakers will elect the president.
‘New Botswana’
“We’re involved about employment points and wage constructions,” Karabo Manguba, a 29-year-old gross sales government at a radio station, instructed the Related Press information company. “Voting is a patriotic endeavor…and our voices have to be heard.”
One other voter, Lone Kobe, 38, instructed the AFP information company: “The time has come to precise my opinion. I can not wait. …I want to expertise a brand new Botswana. “We’re seeing {that a} proportion of the inhabitants enjoys the advantages.”
Masisi got here to energy in 2018 via a deliberate transition after his predecessor, Ian Khama, served the utmost 10 years in workplace. He retained the place after the 2019 election received by the BDP.
He managed to barter a brand new contract with the diamond large, the De Beers Group, to offer Botswana a better proportion of its tough diamonds.
Diamonds account for greater than 80 % of Botswana’s exports and 1 / 4 of gross home product (GDP), in line with the World Financial institution.
However Masisi acknowledged the market decline.
“Our diamonds have not been bought since April, so sure, our income is down, however the financial fundamentals are nonetheless intact,” he stated at a presidential debate final week.
Gross sales of tough diamonds at Debswana, the corporate the federal government collectively owns with De Beers, fell by virtually 50 % within the first half of 2024, in line with authorities.
Masisi additionally lifted a ban on elephant searching, which he praised for benefiting rural communities, and instituted an import ban on some agricultural merchandise to assist farmers.
Opponents competing for change
The opposition claims that the BDP has been in energy for too lengthy and accuses it of financial mismanagement and corruption, which it denies.
“It’s not acceptable that in a rustic like ours, which is the fifth richest per capita in Africa, there are nonetheless so many individuals dwelling in poverty,” Boko of the SVP stated through the debate.
The UDC has pledged to greater than double the minimal wage from 1,500 pula ($112) a month to 4,000 pula ($300) if it wins.
