GABORONE-On October 30, 2024 citizens of Botswana have cast their votes to elect members of Parliament for the country’s 13th legislature and local government councils who will govern the country for the next five years.
The Head of the Southern African Development Community Election Observation Mission (SADC-SEOM), Hon. Mizengo Pinda, and his team visited three polling stations in Gaborone and two in Mochudi to observe and witness the voting process. Candidates from four political parties are contesting for 61 parliamentary seats; the parties are the Botswana Congress Party (BCP), the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), the Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD), and the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC).
A total of 609 local government council seats are also contested in a general election by candidates from four political parties as well as independent candidates who have met the criteria set by the Botswana Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).
The Botswana general elections have been observed by international observer missions, including the African Union Electoral Observation Mission (AUEOM) led by former Nigerian President H.E. Goodluck Jonathan, the Southern African Development Community Electoral Observation Mission (SADC-SEOM) led by former Tanzanian Prime Minister Hon. Mizengo Pinda,
The Commonwealth Experts mission led by Hon. Gideon Moi, and the SADC Electoral Forum mission led by Chairperson of the Tanzania Electoral Commission (INEC) Hon. Justice Jacob Mwambegele. The elections are also being observed by representatives from the embassies of the United States, Japan, Indonesia, Namibia, and various institutions focused on political affairs in Botswana.
The missions commended the people of Botswana for conducting the electoral process peacefully and securely leading up to the election day. SEOM Observers in Gaborone have noted a significant turnout of voters who cast their votes in a calm and secure environment.
According to the electoral procedure in Botswana, the party that secures more than 31 parliamentary seats will nominate the president, who will form the government to lead the country for the next five years.