The governing party in Botswana, Southern Africa’s oldest democracy, has won the country’s eighth general election, a spokesman for the Independent Electoral Commission (IDC) told IRIN on Monday.
As officials counted the vote after Saturday’s poll, the IDC said it was clear from the majority of votes already counted that the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), led by President Festus Mogae, had won the general election.
“The official results are not expected for at least another 24 hours, but it is clear they have won,” he said. The BDP also won the local council elections which were held at the same time.
The new National Assembly is expected to meet on Wednesday to elect a president, traditionally the leader of the biggest party. The BDP has held power in Botswana since the country’s independence from Britain in 1966.
This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions
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