The recent elections in Botswana have been described as elections like no other, and a surprise landslide victory. This week, the Batswana citizens and the African continent are trying to comprehend what happened in the elections.
They position Botswana as testimony to an evolving society. Voters in Botswana have delivered a shock defeat to the party that has ruled them for nearly six decades by handing a firm victory to an opposition coalition and its presidential candidate, 54-year old Duma Boko.
Boko, of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), replaces President Mokgweetsi Masisi, who on November 1 conceded defeat after his party, the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), lost by a landslide for the first time in 58 years.
The fall of the BDP, while a surprise to some, can be attributed to several factors. These include economic challenges, youth unemployment, the perceived shrinking democratic space, lack of adequate state funding for civil society organisations, the incomplete constitutional review process which has been seen by many as undermining the democratic process, and the lack of state funding for political parties which has also been seen as creating an uneven playing field for political participation.
While in the past few months, there was a perception of weak opposition in Botswana and lack of state funding, the rise of the UDC and how it galvanised voters who were previously loyal to the BDP, is still a mystery to many.
These elections were testimony to the changing public sentiment among young people about the BDP and its governance standards. Over the years, there has been a growing discontentment among the young electorate. This discontentment has been triggered by challenges such as youth unemployment, insufficient economic diversification and lack of public service delivery, leading many citizens to seek change.
While in the past few months, there was a perception of weak opposition in Botswana and a lack of state funding, the rise of the UDC and how it galvanised voters who were previously loyal to the BDP, is still a mystery to many. The strategies employed by the UDC, uniting several opposition factions and providing a more cohesive alternative to the BDP, were exceptional, unlike in the previous elections. It is believed the strategies used by the UDC to defeat the BDP have yet to be understood.
The BDP defeat is also attributed to the declining economy over the years. Botswana has been facing economic and governance challenges such as high youth unemployment and reliance on diamond mining. The socioeconomic issues prompted many voters to question the effectiveness of the BDP's governance. On the other hand, the BDP has not been seen to be proactively addressing the needs and concerns of Botswana's citizens, particularly those related to bread-and-butter issues.
Connected to these challenges, were increasing allegations of corruption within the BDP government and concerns regarding internal governance challenges which severely weakened the party to the advantage of the opposition parties. The BDP faced leadership challenges, including controversies surrounding key figures within the party which led to factionalism and a perception that the party was undemocratic to the core. Governance scandals have eroded public trust by the electorate.
There is also an issue of generational change, which many people may not have been paying attention to. Younger voters, who may not have the same loyalty to BDP as previous generations, began to play a more significant role in these elections, especially Generation 2000. This demographic shift brought different perspectives and priorities, favouring newer political movements and ideas.
Linked to this, the rise of social media changed how political campaigns were conducted and how young voters received information. This allowed for greater engagement among younger populations and provided a platform for criticism of the BDP.
The combination of these factors created an environment where the BDP's once-unquestionable dominance was challenged, eventually leading to a significant reduction in their parliamentary seats and a huge loss.
Tendai Mbanje is a project officer in the Expression, Information and Digital Rights Unit at the Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria.
