Botswana

National Assembly

Election results

Data on parliamentary elections, including the background, candidates, voter turnout, results and the formation of the new legislature. By default the latest election results are displayed. Select a date to view results from previous elections

Background

Election date(s) The date when elections started and ended for directly or indirectly elected parliaments/chambers. The date of appointments for appointed parliaments/chambers.
23.10.2019
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature Date at which the previous legislature (elected at the previous elections) was dissolved.
28.08.2019
Timing of election Timing of election: Upon normal expiry; Early elections; Delayed elections
Upon normal expiry
Expected date of next elections The expected date at which the next elections should take place, based on law or practice.
31.10.2024
Number of seats at stake Number of seats contested at the elections. Where the parliament/chamber is fully renewed, this number is usually identical to the statutory number of members. Where the parliament/chamber is partially renewed or appointed, the number of seats at stake is usually less than the total number of members.
57
Scope of elections Scope of elections: Full renewal; Partial renewal.
Full renewal

Candidates

Total number of candidates Total number of people who registered as candidates for election. Does not include people who stood as candidates to become "substitute members".
210
Number of male candidates Number of male candidates
198
Number of female candidates Number of female candidates
12
Percentage of women candidates The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of women candidates by the total number of candidates.
5.71%
Number of parties contesting the election This field may include either the number of parties contesting the election, or the number of coalitions/electoral alliance.
6

Voter turnout

Registration Number of people registered to vote
925,478
Votes Number of people who actually voted
772,158
Voter turnout The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of people who actually voted by the number of people registered to vote
83.43%

Results

About the election Short description of the context and results of the election.
The Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), now led by President Mokgweetsi Masisi, retained the majority in the 65-member National Assembly (see note 1), taking 38 of the 57 seats at stake. The BDP’s victory automatically re-elected Mr. Masisi as President (see note 2). The Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC, the main opposition coalition led by Mr. Duma Boko) took 15 seats, five times more than the Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF, a breakaway party of the BDP), which is led by former President Serêtsê Khama Ian Khama. On 1 November, President Masisi was sworn in for a five-year term.

The 2019 elections were the first to be held under President Masisi. In 2018, then Vice President Masisi succeeded Mr. Khama before the latter completed his five-year term. During election campaigning, President Masisi (BDP) vowed to reinvigorate the country’s economy by transforming it from a minerals-led to a knowledge-based economy. The UDC promised to create 10,000 jobs.

Note 1:
In accordance with the constitutional amendments of August 2016, which came into force on 26 October of that year, the number of “specially elected members” (members indirectly elected by the National Assembly) was increased from four to six. Consequently, the total number of members has increased from 63 to 65.

Note 2:
In accordance with Article 32 (3) of the Constitution, the presidential candidate of the party that secures more than half of the 57 directly elected seats in the National Assembly is declared elected as President. On 25 October, the Chief Justice announced that Mr. Masisi had been elected President.
Number of parties winning seats The number of parties which won parliamentary representation in the given election.
4
Percentage of parties winning seats The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of parties which won parliamentary representation by the number of parties contesting the election.
66.67%
Percentage of seats won by largest party or coalition The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of seats won by the largest party by the number of seats at stake in the election.
66.67%
Alternation of power after elections The results of the elections caused a change in the government. "Not applicable" to countries using the presidential system when parliamentary and presidential elections are held separately, to countries in political transition or where there is no party system.
No
Number of parties in government The government may be formed by one or more political parties
1
Names of parties in government The government may be formed by one or more political parties
Botswana Democratic Party (BDP)
Parties or coalitions winning seats
Political groups winning seats breakdown
Political group Total
Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) 38
Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) 15
Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) 3
Alliance for Progressives (AP) 1
Members elected, by sex
Number of men elected
54
Number of women elected
3
Percentage of women elected The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of women elected in the election and the number of seats at stake at the election.
5.26%
Sources
National Assembly (12.11.2019, 22.11.2019)
BBC Monitoring
BBC
Reuters
AFP
https://www.parliament.gov.bw/images/constitution.pdf 
https://govbw.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/f2d3b68da67c48138de0c9a7ff88ba9e
Women Directly Elected
3
Women Indirectly Elected
4

New legislature

Total number of men after the election The total number of male parliamentarians in this parliament/chamber following the election or renewal, regardless of their modes of designation.
58
Total number of women after the election The total number of female parliamentarians in this parliament/chamber following the election or renewal, regardless of their modes of designation.
7
First-term parliamentarians The number of members who are assuming their parliamentary mandate for the first time following the election or renewal, regardless of their mode of designation.
40
Date of the first session The date when the newly elected parliament/chamber was convened for the first time. It may be different from the date when members were sworn in.
05.11.2019
First Speaker of the new legislature
First Speaker of the new legislature First name of the Speaker of the new legislature following the election or renewal.
Phandu Tobola Chaka Skelemani (Male)
Date of election
05.11.2019