Botswana Democratic Party loses power after 58 years as opposition coalition leads election results
abc.net.au — November 1, 2024, 11:01 AM UTC
Botswana's ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) has lost its parliamentary majority after 58 years in power. President Mokgweetsi Masisi conceded defeat as preliminary results showed the opposition coalition, Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), leading significantly. With results from 41 of 61 constituencies, the UDC secured 26 seats while the BDP only gained three. Duma Boko, the UDC leader, is poised to become the new president, having campaigned on economic issues. The BDP's decline is attributed to rising socio-economic grievances, particularly among youth, amid a downturn in the diamond market and high unemployment. Celebrations erupted in Gaborone as citizens expressed pride in the electoral change.