Botswana Goes Into Most Fierce Polls On Wednesday

GAROBONE –  A few hours from now, Botswana goes into polls, one believed by analysts as the most tense, and fiercely contested.

Four Presidential candidates are set to compete for the seat in the Wednesday elections, a seat that has been held by the ruling party (BDP- Botswana Democratic Party) since the small, but economically sound South African nation got independence way back in 1966.

President Mokgweetsi Masisi said unlike his predecessor Ian Khama, if he lost in Wednesday’s elections, he would accept the outcome and would not return to destabilise the government.

This is seen as the most fiercely contested poll yet for Botswana.

But Khama, who left the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), said he wanted the party that has governed the country since independence to lose because Masisi was undermining democracy.

Masisi and three other presidential hopefuls took part in a public debate and Khama made an appearance at the final rally of the Botswana Patriotic Front.

Khama and his successor Masisi have been at each other’s throats throughout the campaigning season.

Khama’s departure has analysts predicting, for the first time, that a new party could govern Africa’s most stable democracy.

After a fall out with his anointed successor, Khama vowed to support all candidates that would ensure the BDP loses the elections.

He accused Masisi of being dictator: “Those in charge of BDP are undermining democracy…”

Masisi said unlike Khama, he would accept the outcome of the elections and stay out of politics if he lost.

“BDP and I respect the constitution, so we will accept the outcome and I won’t come back like some people who look like they forgot something.”

The other four main political parties said they too would accept the outcome but have accused intelligence agencies of meddling in the election.