EFF congratulates the Umbrella for Democratic Change led by Duma Boko for winning the General Elections in Botswana
1 November 2024
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) would like to congratulate the opposition coalition Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) led by Duma Boko for the winning the 2024 General Election (GE) in Botswana beating the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) which has been in power for 58 years. During the 2019 elections, BDP won 38 of 57 contested seats, but this time around the people of Botswana have decided differently, thereby give new impetus to a new political chapter in Botswana.
This seismic shift attests to the reality that no liberation movement is ordained to wield power forever in that once the social contract between citizens and the state is broken due to neglect by the ruling elite, people have a constitutional obligation to replace those in power through a vote. We have seen this phenomenon unfolding in many countries including South Africa where the former liberation movement, African National Congress (ANC) has now been reduced to below 50% thus lost the hegemonic power to run the state on its own, hence the so called Government of National Unity (GNU).
History informs us that after 80 years as a British protectorate, Bechuanaland attained self-government in 1965, becoming the independent Republic of Botswana on September 30, 1966. Subsequent to these political developments, Sir Seretse Khama was elected the first President of the Republic Botswana and served until his death in 1980 and followed by Ketumile Masire as second President. After his voluntary retirement from his Presidential office in 1998, he (Masire) was succeeded by Festus Mogae who ran the country as President until he finished his second term in 2008.
Masire was then succeeded by Ian Khama in 2008.