General update
On 30th October 2024, Botswana held its general elections for the National Assembly and Local Councils. In a historic shift, the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) led by President Mokgweetsi Masisi suffered a major defeat, ending its uninterrupted 58-year hold on power since the country’s independence. The opposition coalition, Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) emerged victorious, winning 36 out of the 61 directly elected seats in the National Assembly. The Botswana Congress Party (BCP) secured 15 seats, the Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) won 5 seats, and the BDP was reduced to just 4 seats—marking one of the most significant electoral defeats of a sitting government in the Commonwealth.
Voter turnout was notably high, surpassing 80 percent, reflecting strong public engagement in the electoral process. However, the elections highlighted persistent gender disparities. Out of 258 parliamentary candidates, only 28 were women (10.85%). Of these, only three were elected—representing just 4.92% of the directly elected seats, a slight decline from the 5.26% recorded in 2019.
Duma Boko, the UDC’s presidential candidate, was officially sworn in as President on 8th November 2024 by Chief Justice Terence Rannowane. His inauguration marked the formation of Botswana’s first post-independence government without any BDP participation.
The African Centre for Governance Election Observation Mission (ACG-EOM) declared the elections free, fair and credible. In its preliminary statement, the mission praised the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) for conducting a generally well-managed election that adhered to national laws and international standards. Nonetheless, the ACG-EOM acknowledged some logistical issues, including delays in opening certain polling stations and inconsistent access to voting materials. These did not significantly compromise the overall integrity of the electoral process but were noted as areas for improvement in future elections.
Peaceful Assembly
Protesters denounce controversial Constitutional Amendment Bill
On 4th September 2024, CSOs including the Motheo O Mosha organised public protests which resulted in clashes between police and protesters outside Botswana’s National Assembly in Gaborone as Parliament debated the controversial Constitutional Amendment Bill of 2024. The Bill sought to grant the president sweeping powers to appoint key civil servants, including the chief justice and the head of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC). However, police violently dispersed protesters, citing the absence of an official permit. Activists reported several injuries during the clashes with at least one person hospitalised. NGO chairperson Morena Monganja described the police response as unacceptable in a democratic society.
Meanwhile, Minister for State President Kabo Morwaeng defended the bill as progressive, claiming it contained provisions to improve citizen’s rights, including protections for health, the right to strike and labour rights. Critics, however, argued that the bill was driven by the executive without meaningful public consultation and failed to address the deeper structural and institutional issues facing Botswana’s democracy. Opposition members of parliament boycotted the vote and the ruling party failed to secure enough votes to pass the Bill at its third reading.
Botswana opposition protest disrupted ahead of elections
On 30th October 2024, opposition activists in Botswana took to the streets of Gaborone ahead of the upcoming general elections. The demonstration, led by the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) aimed at presenting a petition to the Zimbabwean Embassy, accusing Zimbabwe of collaborating with the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) to prolong its 58-year hold on power. However, heavily armed police intervened by blocking roads, dispersing the crowd and preventing access to the embassy, citing the lack of a required permit. Despite the disruption, UDC representative Phenyo Butale proceeded to publicly read the petition, which condemned alleged interference by Zimbabwe. He criticised the police response as excessive and emphasised that the permit process should ensure safety, not hinder the right to freedom of expression. In response, both the BDP and Zimbabwe’s ruling ZANU-PF party dismissed the accusations. A ZANU-PF spokesperson described the claims as unfounded and offensive.