Why elections in October?

Our elections are held every five years. Yes, every five years, though that is not what the Constitution demands.

The Constitution states that “91 (2) Subject to the provisions of the Constitution, the President may at any time dissolve Parliament". In other words, he is not obliged to dissolve Parliament at the expiry of five years. He can do so any time. Botswana follows the Westminster system where elections are called at the prerogative of the head of state, in our case the President.