On November 1, 2024, Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Masisi admitted defeat in the recent elections, ending the Botswana Democratic Party’s (BDP) 58 years in power.
The opposition party, Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), led by 54-year-old lawyer Duma Boko, won enough seats to take control of parliament.
President Masisi promised a smooth transition and said he would support the new government.
Experts say that growing problems like high unemployment and economic hardship led many voters, especially young people, to look for change.
The UDC promised to raise wages, improve public services, and make the courts more independent, which appealed to many voters.
Botswana’s economy relies heavily on diamonds, but with a recent drop in global diamond demand, unemployment has risen to 28%.
Many citizens felt the BDP had been in power too long without new solutions, so they chose the UDC.
This shift in Botswana reflects a wider trend in southern Africa, where long-ruling parties, like South Africa’s ANC, are starting to lose ground.
This election result shows that governments must focus on economic progress to keep the support of their people.
