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Botswana’s 2019 General Elections: A Referendum on General Ian Khama

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 November 2021

Batlang Seabo  and
Robert Nyenhuis Open the ORCID record for Robert Nyenhuis [Opens in a new window]
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Abstract

On October 23, 2019, Botswana held its twelfth free and fair election. For the first time in the history of Botswana’s electoral democracy, a former president (Ian Khama) defected from the ruling party and supported the opposition. The opposition coalition, working informally with Khama, mounted a spirited campaign against the well-oiled machine, the incumbent and long-ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP). Seabo and Nyenhuis reflect on the 2019 general election, analyze the outcome, and consider the implications for the future of Botswana’s electoral democracy. They argue that barring other factors, the BDP’s resounding victory was mainly a result of Batswana’s rejection of former president Ian Khama.

Résumé

Résumé

Le 23 octobre 2019, le Botswana a tenu sa douzième élection libre et équitable. Pour la première fois dans l’histoire de la démocratie électorale du Botswana, un ancien président (Ian Khama) a fait défection du parti au pouvoir et a soutenu l’opposition. La coalition de l’opposition, travaillant de manière informelle avec Khama, a monté une campagne énergique contre la machine bien huilée, le parti sortant et longtemps au pouvoir, le Parti démocratique du Botswana (BDP). Seabo et Nyenhuis se penchent sur les élections générales de 2019, analysent le résultat et examinent les implications pour l’avenir de la démocratie électorale du Botswana. Ils affirment qu’à l’exception d’autres facteurs, la victoire retentissante du BDP est principalement le résultat du rejet par les Botswanais de l’ancien président Ian Khama.

Resumo

Resumo

A 23 de outubro de 2019, realizaram-se as 12.as eleições livres e justas do Botsuana. Pela primeira vez na história da democracia eleitoral do Botsuana, um antigo presidente (Ian Khama) abandonou o partido no poder para apoiar a oposição. A coligação oposicionista, em colaboração informal com Khama, montou uma espirituosa campanha contra a máquina bem oleada do Partido Democrático do Botsuana (Botswana Democratic Party – BDP), que há muito se encontra em exercício de poder. Seabo e Nyenhuis refletem sobre as eleições gerais de 2019, analisam os respetivos resultados e as suas consequências para o futuro da democracia eleitoral do Botsuana. De acordo com os autores, para além de outros fatores, a vitória retumbante do BDP resultou do facto de os botsuaneses rejeitarem o antigo presidente Ian Khama.

Keywords

voting behaviorethnicityBotswanaquality of democracyelectoral campaignsdominant party politics
Type
Article
Information
African Studies Review , Volume 64 , Issue 4 , December 2021 , pp. 854 - 883
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the African Studies Association

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