Botswana's BDP party loses power in election, local media report
By Reuters |
Botswana has enjoyed stability and relative prosperity thanks to its diamond wealth and small population.
Botswana's ruling BDP party lost its parliamentary majority in this week's election, the private Mmegi newspaper and state radio reported on Friday, citing results from over half the constituencies.
Analysts had said the election would be competitive, although they thought a divided opposition would give an advantage to President Mokgweetsi Masisi's Botswana Democratic Party (BDP).
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The BDP has ruled the southern African country of 2.3 million people since its independence from Britain in 1966.
In a televised address to the nation today, President Masisi was quick to concede defeat.
“We have lost these elections overwhelmingly," he said.
"The public service is apolitical and serves the government of the day. So I expect all focus to shift and stand ready to take instruction and subscribe to the dictates of the new administration. We are Botswana and we will continue and God is always with us," Masai said.
According to the independent newspaper Mmegi, the results from 36 of the 61 declared constituencies show that opposition parties have won more than half the seats in Parliament.
The BDP has governed Botswana since the country gained independence in 1966.
State radio had the same tally. It said out of the 36 constituencies so far the BDP had only won one. An opposition coalition, the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), had won 23.
A party needs to win 31 constituencies to get a majority in this election.
Botswana has enjoyed stability and relative prosperity thanks to its diamond wealth and small population, which gets free healthcare and education. It is the world's top producer by value of the gem.
However, a downturn in the diamond market has put a squeeze on revenues in the last few years, and the country has struggled to diversify its economy.
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