Botswana general election, 2009
Encyclopedia
General elections were held in Botswana
on 16 October 2009. They were the 10th general elections held since Botswana's independence in 1966. Botswana's parliament
has 61 seats, of which 57 are elected using a single-member district plurality system, meaning there are 57 constituencies, each electing a single MP
. Four more seats are co-opted: elected MPs vote on who will occupy them. Besides parliament, Batswana also voted for local councils.
The Botswana Democratic Party
won the majority of seats and will form the next government of Botswana.
in Botswana's parliament
contested the 2009 election: the Botswana Democratic Party
(BDP), the Botswana National Front
(BNF) and the Botswana Congress Party
(BCP). Several smaller parties also took part, as well as 15 independent candidates (in 13 constituencies).
The BDP fielded a candidate in each of the 57 constituencies. Its leader, President of Botswana Ian Khama
, was not a candidate, but Vice-President of Botswana
Mompati Merafhe
defended his seat in Mahalapye West. The BDP has won every election in Botswana since independence.
BNF leader Otsweletse Moupo did not run as a candidate. He had intended to defend his parliamentary seat for Gaborone West North, but lost the BNF primary election
there. It was speculated that he would try to get his party's nomination in Gaborone South, but ultimately Moupo declined to contest the election. In the 2004 election
, Moupo stood for election in Selebi-Phikwe West, but lost to BDP candidate Kavis Kario. He was elected into parliament for Gaborone West North in a 2005 by-election
, held after the death of BNF MP Paul Rantao.
The BCP is allied with the Botswana Alliance Movement
(BAM), and they support each other's candidates. BCP–BAM fielded candidates in 46 constituencies, even though only 36 are mentioned on their website. BCP leader Gilson Saleshando stood for election in Selebi-Phikwe West, a constituency held prior to the election by BDP candidate Kavis Kario.
, leader of the Barata-Phathi faction within the BDP. While Khama and Kwelagobe made amends, stability within the BDP remains open to question.
based printer, this could not proceed as planned. Ballot numbers, which should be unique to counter election fraud, sometimes repeated on the ballots for local elections. Police officers and polling officers now had to vote on 16 October, along with the general public. For officers stationed far away from the place they are registered to vote, this could present serious problems. The BCP has threatened legal action against the IEC.
, securing this time an extra seat to take it to 45 of 57 seats in the assembly. The opposition Botswana National Front (BNF) dropped from twelve seats to six. The Botswana Congress Party, a splinter of the BNF, increased its representation from one seat to four with their allies in the Alliance Movement also gaining a seat. Nehemiah Modubule, MP for Lobatse, won re-election running as an independent, having been elected in 2004 for the BNF. Despite winning a vast majority of seats the BDP benefited from the first past the post election system with the combined vote of the two main opposition parties being enough to beat the BDP in many constituencies. BDP party targets were to increase their representation to at least 50 seats but a spokesman said the party was happy with the result.
The Botswana Democratic Party won a majority of the votes, with the BNF narrowly defeating the BCP-BAM coalition for second place.
The result gave Khama another five years in power as president. He was inaugurated soon after the election, and a victory rally took place in Gaborone
on 18 October.
Botswana
Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana , is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa. The citizens are referred to as "Batswana" . Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966...
on 16 October 2009. They were the 10th general elections held since Botswana's independence in 1966. Botswana's parliament
National Assembly of Botswana
The National Assembly of Botswana is the legislature of the country's unicameral Parliament. It is advised by the House of Chiefs, which is not a house of Parliament....
has 61 seats, of which 57 are elected using a single-member district plurality system, meaning there are 57 constituencies, each electing a single MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
. Four more seats are co-opted: elected MPs vote on who will occupy them. Besides parliament, Batswana also voted for local councils.
The Botswana Democratic Party
Botswana Democratic Party
The Botswana Democratic Party is the governing conservative party in Botswana. Its chairman is Daniel Kwelagobe.BDP was shaped by Sir Seretse Khama, who is celebrated for nurturing the economic and political success of Botswana. The party's base is in the traditional Setswana communities, and it...
won the majority of seats and will form the next government of Botswana.
Parties
All parties represented after the 2004 General ElectionBotswana general election, 2004
The Botswana general election of 2004 was contested by the Botswana Democratic Party and eight opposition parties. 57 seats in the Parliament were contested, with the largest opposition party, the Botswana National Front , accusing the Independent Election Commission of fundamental errors in its...
in Botswana's parliament
National Assembly of Botswana
The National Assembly of Botswana is the legislature of the country's unicameral Parliament. It is advised by the House of Chiefs, which is not a house of Parliament....
contested the 2009 election: the Botswana Democratic Party
Botswana Democratic Party
The Botswana Democratic Party is the governing conservative party in Botswana. Its chairman is Daniel Kwelagobe.BDP was shaped by Sir Seretse Khama, who is celebrated for nurturing the economic and political success of Botswana. The party's base is in the traditional Setswana communities, and it...
(BDP), the Botswana National Front
Botswana National Front
The Botswana National Front has been the main opposition party in Botswana since the 1969 elections.It achieved its greatest electoral success in the 1994 elections, when it won 37.1% of the vote and 13 of 40 parliamentary seats. A factional conflict in 1998 led to the departure of 11 of these...
(BNF) and the Botswana Congress Party
Botswana Congress Party
The Botswana Congress Party is a social-democratic political party in Botswana, considered the third largest party in Botswana.The BCP was founded in 1998 in a split from the Botswana National Front, with most of the BNF's sitting Members of Parliament joining the new party after a leadership...
(BCP). Several smaller parties also took part, as well as 15 independent candidates (in 13 constituencies).
The BDP fielded a candidate in each of the 57 constituencies. Its leader, President of Botswana Ian Khama
Ian Khama
Lieutenant General Seretse Khama Ian Khama is a Botswana politician who has been the President of Botswana since 2008; he is also the Paramount Chief of the Bamangwato tribe...
, was not a candidate, but Vice-President of Botswana
Vice-President of Botswana
The Vice-President of Botswana is the second-highest executive official in the Government of Botswana.-List of Vice-Presidents of Botswana:-See also:*Botswana**Heads of state of Botswana**Heads of government of Botswana...
Mompati Merafhe
Mompati Merafhe
Lt. Gen. Mompati Sebogodi Merafhe is a Botswana politician, currently serving as Vice-President. He is a retired Lieutenant-General and was Botswana's Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1994 to 2008.-Biography:...
defended his seat in Mahalapye West. The BDP has won every election in Botswana since independence.
BNF leader Otsweletse Moupo did not run as a candidate. He had intended to defend his parliamentary seat for Gaborone West North, but lost the BNF primary election
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
there. It was speculated that he would try to get his party's nomination in Gaborone South, but ultimately Moupo declined to contest the election. In the 2004 election
Botswana general election, 2004
The Botswana general election of 2004 was contested by the Botswana Democratic Party and eight opposition parties. 57 seats in the Parliament were contested, with the largest opposition party, the Botswana National Front , accusing the Independent Election Commission of fundamental errors in its...
, Moupo stood for election in Selebi-Phikwe West, but lost to BDP candidate Kavis Kario. He was elected into parliament for Gaborone West North in a 2005 by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
, held after the death of BNF MP Paul Rantao.
The BCP is allied with the Botswana Alliance Movement
Botswana Alliance Movement
The Botswana Alliance Movement is a progressive political party in Botswana, led by Ephraim Lepetu Setshwaelo. Prior to the 2009 election the party entered into an electoral pact with the Botswana Congress Party. In the 2009 elections the party won a seat in the National Assembly of Botswana for...
(BAM), and they support each other's candidates. BCP–BAM fielded candidates in 46 constituencies, even though only 36 are mentioned on their website. BCP leader Gilson Saleshando stood for election in Selebi-Phikwe West, a constituency held prior to the election by BDP candidate Kavis Kario.
Opinion polls
Very few scientific opinion polls were taken prior to the election, preventing accurate measures of public sentiment.| Date of poll | Institute | BDP Botswana Democratic Party The Botswana Democratic Party is the governing conservative party in Botswana. Its chairman is Daniel Kwelagobe.BDP was shaped by Sir Seretse Khama, who is celebrated for nurturing the economic and political success of Botswana. The party's base is in the traditional Setswana communities, and it... |
BNF Botswana National Front The Botswana National Front has been the main opposition party in Botswana since the 1969 elections.It achieved its greatest electoral success in the 1994 elections, when it won 37.1% of the vote and 13 of 40 parliamentary seats. A factional conflict in 1998 led to the departure of 11 of these... |
BCP Botswana Congress Party The Botswana Congress Party is a social-democratic political party in Botswana, considered the third largest party in Botswana.The BCP was founded in 1998 in a split from the Botswana National Front, with most of the BNF's sitting Members of Parliament joining the new party after a leadership... |
Other/none |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sept 28 – Oct 16 2008 | University of Botswana Faculty / Afrobarometer | 63% | 13% | 8% | 10% |
Problems within the BDP
The BDP is currently experiencing significant internal problems, with President Khama threatening to expel party leader and former cabinet minister Daniel KwelagobeDaniel Kwelagobe
Daniel Keatametse Kwelagobe is the current Chairman of the Botswana Democratic Party and previously served as Minister for Presidential Affairs on two occasions...
, leader of the Barata-Phathi faction within the BDP. While Khama and Kwelagobe made amends, stability within the BDP remains open to question.
Problems with voting by police and polling officers
Because police officers and polling officers have to conduct the elections on 16 October, early voting was planned for these people. This was to be done on September 29. However, because of a printing error at the JohannesburgJohannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
based printer, this could not proceed as planned. Ballot numbers, which should be unique to counter election fraud, sometimes repeated on the ballots for local elections. Police officers and polling officers now had to vote on 16 October, along with the general public. For officers stationed far away from the place they are registered to vote, this could present serious problems. The BCP has threatened legal action against the IEC.
Voting abroad
Early voting in polling stations abroad took place on 3 October in 26 external polling stations across the world.Results
Election turnout was reported to be high with polling station opening times being extending to cope with large queues. Election observers stated that the overall process ran smoothly, although in some instance people had been unable to vote. The BDP improved on its 2004 resultsBotswana general election, 2004
The Botswana general election of 2004 was contested by the Botswana Democratic Party and eight opposition parties. 57 seats in the Parliament were contested, with the largest opposition party, the Botswana National Front , accusing the Independent Election Commission of fundamental errors in its...
, securing this time an extra seat to take it to 45 of 57 seats in the assembly. The opposition Botswana National Front (BNF) dropped from twelve seats to six. The Botswana Congress Party, a splinter of the BNF, increased its representation from one seat to four with their allies in the Alliance Movement also gaining a seat. Nehemiah Modubule, MP for Lobatse, won re-election running as an independent, having been elected in 2004 for the BNF. Despite winning a vast majority of seats the BDP benefited from the first past the post election system with the combined vote of the two main opposition parties being enough to beat the BDP in many constituencies. BDP party targets were to increase their representation to at least 50 seats but a spokesman said the party was happy with the result.
The Botswana Democratic Party won a majority of the votes, with the BNF narrowly defeating the BCP-BAM coalition for second place.
The result gave Khama another five years in power as president. He was inaugurated soon after the election, and a victory rally took place in Gaborone
Gaborone
' is the capital and largest city of Botswana with a population of 191,776 based on a 2006 survey, about 10% of the total population of Botswana....
on 18 October.
External links
- Independent Electoral Commission: Candidates for parliamentary seats