Boko, 54, took workplace simply 9 days after his occasion defeated the Botswana Democratic Social gathering, which dominated for six many years.
Botswana has sworn in Duma Boko because the nation’s new president after his landslide election victory ousted the Botswana Democratic Social gathering (BDP), which had been in energy for nearly 60 years.
On Friday, Boko, 54, was sworn in earlier than a number of thousand folks on the nationwide stadium, simply 9 days after his Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) crushed the BDP on the polls.
“For nearly thirty years, our democracy remained intact, untested and untested. On October 30 this yr, collectively, we examined this democracy,” Boko mentioned in a speech.
“It’s with delight, and maybe even a contact of aid, that I can proudly say that we’ve got handed this check with flying colours,” he mentioned to applause from the gang.
“Collectively we usher in a brand new political daybreak.”
Final week, Boko’s left-leaning UDC received 36 seats in parliament, in comparison with simply 4 for the conservative BDP, in a shocking setback for the occasion that had dominated diamond-rich Botswana since independence from the UK in 1966.
Former president Mokgweetsi Masisi, who admitted defeat two days after the vote as his occasion’s colossal defeat grew to become clear, was within the viewers together with leaders from different international locations within the area, together with Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Though the gang booed Masisi, the brand new president praised his predecessor’s “statesmanship.”
“Please give him some love,” Boko mentioned on the stadium.
“Botswana has set the instance of a very functioning democracy for your entire world to see and emulate. For that singular act, the previous president might be inscribed in a distinguished place in our hearts.”
Younger voters made up a few third of the multiple million folks registered to vote on this arid, sparsely populated nation.
Botswana, usually thought-about considered one of Africa’s best success tales, is among the many continent’s richest and most secure democracies. However a world drop in demand for mined diamonds, which account for greater than 80 % of southern Africa’s exports, has taken its toll on the financial system.
Many citizens mentioned they needed change after practically six many years of BDP rule, with the primary issues being unemployment, the disparity between wealthy and poor and the financial system, which has been hit by falling diamond gross sales, the mainstay of Botswana’s income.
Masisi’s authorities was additionally accused of mismanagement, nepotism and corruption.
Boko has mentioned a precedence for his authorities might be stabilizing relations with diamond trade companions, whereas diversifying the financial system away from its dependence on the worldwide diamond market.
