KEY POINTS
- President Masisi seeks reelection as Botswana faces economic downturn.
- Declining diamond sales have impacted Botswana’s GDP growth projections.
- The BDP faces criticism from opposition parties over economic inequality.
Botswana voters cast ballots to decide if President Mokgweetsi Masisi is reelected to a second term amid economic concerns fueled by a collapsing diamond sector.
Despite mounting dissatisfaction over economic difficulties, the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), which has controlled the nation since 1966, is preferred to stay in power.
Results are due in a matter of days, and more than a million voters are likely to cast ballots. The Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), a coalition headed by attorney Duma Boko, is the main rival of the BDP.
The opposition is now divided and might weaken the anti-BDP vote as two more parties have put forward presidential candidates.
Economic slowdown and opposition critiques
Due to its diamond deposits, Botswana has historically been among the richest countries in Africa per capita; but, as worldwide diamond sales have declined, the country’s economy has faltered.
The country’s growth forecasts for 2024 were lowered to just 1 percent due to the decline. Opposition leaders cite to growing unemployment and ongoing income inequality as evidence that Masisi’s government has not done enough to address these economic issues.
Masisi has retaliated, claiming that recent worldwide upheavals caused a delay in his programs intended to create jobs and boost the economy.
The BDP manifesto emphasizes a development strategy that emphasizes mineral processing and agricultural growth as ways to diversify the economy away from reliance on diamonds.
According to Reuters, critics, however, continue to have doubts about these proposals, claiming that economic diversification has been debated for years with little advancement.
Longtime ruling party faces a tight race
When Ian Khama’s mandate ended in 2018, Masisi took over in a prearranged handover. In 2019, the president consolidated his position by guiding the BDP to victory in 38 of the 57 seats up for grabs.
Notwithstanding this achievement, the party is losing support as resentment over the high cost of living and economic stagnation grows.
The BDP’s economic management has been a key campaign issue for the UDC, which has pledged economic reforms and more inclusive policies. According to the alliance, many Botswana’s inhabitants are underserved because the country’s wealth is still concentrated among a few elite.
However, internal conflicts and a lack of cohesive messaging may lessen the opposition’s influence despite its outspoken objections.
As the country’s largest diamond producer by value, Botswana’s economic reliance on the gem market makes it vulnerable to shifts in demand. Both government and opposition candidates agree on the need to expand the economy’s foundation, but their approaches vary sharply.
