On October 30, 2024, voters in Botswana ousted then ruling party, BDP, handing the presidency to human rights lawyer, Duma Boko, of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC). It was the first time after 58 years that the BDP tasted defeat at the polls. Following the party’s humiliating defeat to the UDC-a coalition of the Botswana National Front (BNF), Botswana People’s Party (BPP) and Alliance for Progressives (AP)-some members of the public and the academia posited that the BDP’s loss may have sounded its death knell. The former ruling party was soundly beaten by the new president Boko’s UDC winning only four out of 61 National Assembly seats on offer.
The UDC has won 36 parliamentary seats followed by the Botswana Congress Party (BCP), 15 seats and, Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) won five seats respectively. One seat was won by an independent candidate. Some analysts have blamed mounting economic grievances, high unemployment rate particularly amongst young people, as one of the BDP’s downfall. Former president Mokgweetsi Masisi later conceded defeat in a move that was hailed worldwide as a show of Botswana’s mature democracy. In the aftermath of the BDP’s defeat, University of Botswana (UB) political observer, Professor Zibani Maundeni, said the prospects of the former ruling party making a comeback were slim and will largely depend on how the UDC performs in its first term in power. Maundeni’ sentiments were echoed by another UB political analyst, Adam Mfundisi, who said Botswana economy has collapsed mainly due to rampant corruption, maladministration and impulsive spending. “The demise of the BDP has sent the party to political oblivion. No liberation and/or independence political parties in Africa have ever resurrected after defeat. The BDP is joining Kanu (Kenya), Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), Angola, United National Independence Party (UNIP), Zambia, and others, at the political graveyard,” he said.
