Too Little, Too Late

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Botswana’s opposition party won a shock victory in the Oct. 30 parliamentary elections, a win that dislodges the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) after almost six decades in power as voters rejected its economic policies for the diamond-rich southern African nation, the Associated Press reported over the weekend.

The Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) party won 35 seats in parliament, surpassing the 31-seat threshold needed to hold a majority, according to results released Friday. Chief Justice Terence Rannowane announced the results, adding that UDC candidate Duma Boko will become the country’s next president.

Meanwhile, Botswanan President Mokgweetsi Masisi conceded defeat after his BDP came in fourth place, winning about five seats in the legislature, according to the BBC.

Masisi said he “will respectfully step aside and participate in a smooth transition process.”

In Botswana, general elections decide the makeup of its parliament and lawmakers afterward choose the president. The party with a majority usually picks a candidate as president.

The outcome underscored voters’ rejection of the BDP, which had ruled Botswana since its independence from the United Kingdom in 1966. Under the governing party, Botswana had seen dramatic change and an increase in the standard of living as a result of its vast diamond resources – the second-biggest reserves in the world after Russia.

But the southern African nation has been struggling with poor economic growth and high unemployment as it saw a sharp decline in revenue from the gemstones this year amid a downturn in global demand for diamonds.

Diamonds comprise more than 80 percent of Botswana’s exports and a quarter of its gross domestic product, making the precious stones the main issue for the campaign.

The BDP had promised to diversify its economy, but its campaign message did not resonate with many voters. In contrast, the UDC pledged to adopt a new economic strategy that includes creating up to 500,000 jobs within five years.

Analysts noted that the BDP’s surprising loss followed another major shift in the region: In neighboring South Africa, the African National Congress lost its 30-year majority in the May parliamentary elections, forcing it to enter a coalition government for the first time in the country’s history.