Botswana, calm for decades, faces surprising election fight

Botswana’s Ruling party is recently facing the toughest elections in its history, soon after former President Ian Khama who was reportedly upset with his successor, declared an alliance with the Opposition, turning tables for one of Africa’s most stable countries, on Wednesday, October 20.

Restrictions on elephant hunting

The most powerful and influential leader, Khama, son of founding President Seretse Khama, stopped supporting President Mokgweetsi Masisi after he broke most of his policies, including easing restrictions on elephant hunting in an apparent bid to appeal to rural voters. 

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According to some Botswanan experts, Khama abandoned from his own Botswana Democratic Party on the grounds that Masisi tested his control of the party, which has been in charge since Interdependence in the year 1966 and primarily focused on some Khama allies in an anti-corruption movement. 

Leonard Sesa, senior governmental issues teacher at the University of Botswana recently informed that with the upcoming recognition of Masisi, who has been in office for barely a year, is eligible to rule and must be given a chance as the Khama effect is slowly beginning to fade. 

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 Masisi to take control over the jewel rich

Khama declined a year ago after two terms in office soon after transferring previous appointee Masisi to take control over the jewel rich, landlocked country that is situated near north of South Africa. Khama later decided to openly support the opposition coalition Umbrella for Democratic Change and its presidential candidate, human rights lawyer Duma Boko. 

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Botswana, with 925,000 registered voters in a population of 2.2 million, has enjoyed stability and peaceful elections for more than 50 years. Masisi in a presidential debate this month said he would accept an election loss, while Boko was noncommittal. According to recent reports, Boko seriously warned that Masisi and his supporters will degrade Botswana’s political reputation as a democratic success story in Africa. Many people in Botswana have criticized the former President’s action of rejecting his own party.  

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