Polls opened in a national election in Botswana on Wednesday as voters decide if one of Africa’s longest-ruling parties stays in power for another five-year term.
President Mokgweetsi Masisi is seeking a second term and his ruling party hopes to extend its nearly six decades in power.
Masisi, 63, is competing against three challengers on Wednesday for another five-year term.
The president’s Botswana Democratic Party has governed the southern African nation for 58 years, since independence from Britain in 1966. The election will determine the makeup of Parliament and lawmakers will later elect the president.
The BDP faces a divided opposition with its biggest challenge coming from the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), a coalition led by lawyer Duma Boko.
President Mokgweetsi Masisi, a 63-year-old former high school teacher who also previously worked for UNICEF, is seeking a second and final term.
Also running for president are Dumelang Saleshando of the Botswana Congress Party and Mephato Reatile from the Botswana Patriotic Front.
The BDP – among Africa’s longest ruling parties – retains a majority in parliament, having won 38 of 57 contested seats in 2019.
Botswana is considered to be one of the most stable countries in Africa, but it is facing economic challenges because of the global downturn in the demand for diamonds, which it relies on. It is the second biggest producer of diamonds after Russia.
The country has struggled to diversify its economy. Unemployment has risen to 27 percent this year and is significantly higher for young people.
The BDP says it has listened to the concerns of voters and will pursue new revenue streams such as processing mineral resources and developing the agriculture and tourism sectors.
One of its campaign slogans has been “Changing Together, Building Prosperity”.
Polls opened at 6:30am (04:30 GMT) for more than one million people registered to vote. The election will determine the makeup of parliament, and lawmakers will later elect the president.