The arid and sparsely populated African nation of Botswana counted votes Thursday from elections expected to return President Mokgweetsi Masisi to office after a first term marked by growing unemployment and concerns over the diamond-dependent economy.
Voting on Wednesday was orderly in a country proud of its democratic system installed on independence from Britain in 1966, making it the oldest democracy in the region although it has always been governed by the same party. The ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) is confident the results, which are expected late Thursday, will extend its 58 years in power.
However, commentators said weakened support may see the country’s first hung parliament, as the opposition has been divided. Most of Botswana’s financial assets are held by a wealthy 10% of its people, and the gap between rich and poor is one of the largest in the world, according to the World Bank.
Unemployment rose to 27% as the economy suffered from a slump in the market for diamonds, Botswana’s main source of income. Political analyst Olopeng Rabasimane said the next government’s priorities should be stabilizing the economy, creating jobs, and diversifying the economy away from diamonds.
Masisi, one of four presidential candidates, acknowledged concerns about a decline in Botswana’s foreign reserves and weakened international diamond sales, saying the government would increase local investments. But the opposition has claimed several irregularities around voting day, with the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) warning of “another rigged election.”
With 61 parliamentary seats up for grabs, the first party to 31 seats will be declared the winner and install its candidate as president. While the BDP is expected to prevail, the weakened state of the opposition has raised concerns about the future of Botswana’s long-standing democracy.
VOA
