Botswana governing party BDP has suffered a shock election defeat after 58 years in power, preliminary election results show.
BDP, which has governed the diamond-rich Southern African nation since 1966, had won only just seat as of early Friday morning.
The Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), led by human rights lawyer Duma Boko, won 20 seats, according to the early tallies.
UDC looks set to form the government as it is projected to pass the 31-seat threshold for a majority in parliament.As MPs elect the president in Botswana, Duma Boko is on course to become the next head of state once parliament meets for the first time.
Boko, who is running for the third time, has urged his supporters to “maintain vigilance and discipline”.
Despite overseeing a dramatic change in Botswana, recent poor economic growth and high unemployment dented the BDP’s popularity.
He will replace Mokgweetsi Masisi – in office since 2018 – who led the BDP’s failed campaign.The president ran on a message that his party could bring about “change”, but not enough voters were convinced the BDP could do what was needed for the country.
Under Botswana’s constitution, the party that holds a majority of parliamentary seats can choose the president and form a government.
Opposition parties have garnered more than half of the parliamentary seats. This means ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) has now officially lost state power.
Masisi, a 63-year-old former high school teacher and UNICEF worker, had been widely expected to keep his parliamentary majority and serve a second and final term.