BY AGENCIES
Incumbent president Mokgweetsi Masisi on Friday won a five-year term in Botswana’s elections which saw his ruling party secure more than 51 percent of parliamentary votes, the chief justice said.
“Dr. Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi is elected President of the Republic of Botswana,” chief justice Terrence Rannowane announced.
The Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), which has ruled since independence from Britain in 1966, was declared the winner after attaining the minimum 29 parliamentary seats required to form a government after Wednesday’s vote.
Counting for the remaining seats was still underway, the chief justice said adding that “sufficient” results had been declared to announce that Masisi the winner.
“Although counting is on-going, the numbers declared as winners allow me to determine which presidential candidate has obtained the required minimum support of Members of Parliament to be declared president of the republic,” added Rannowane.
The BDP retained key constituencies in the western and northern parts of the country, while the opposition made inroads into the central districts, which were previously the ruling party’s strongholds.
