1984 Botswana general election

General elections were held in Botswana on 8 September 1984.[1] Although the result was a fifth successive landslide victory for the Botswana Democratic Party, which won 29 of the 34 elected seats, the elections saw the opposition Botswana National Front make gains, winning both seats in the capital Gaborone and take control of all urban councils except Selebi-Phikwe in the simultaneous local elections.[2]

1984 Botswana general election
8 September 1984
34 of the 38 seats in the National Assembly
18 seats needed for a majority
Registered293,571
Botswana
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Background

Following the death of President Seretse Khama in 1980, the 1984 elections were the first contested with Quett Masire as leader of the BDP.

Electoral system

The 34 elected members of the National Assembly were elected in single-member constituencies, an increased of two from the 1979 elections. Following the 1981 census, constituencies were redrawn and Gaborone was split into two.[2]

Campaign

A total of 82 candidates contested the election as party representatives, with the BDP being the only party to contest all 34 seats. The Botswana National Front ran in 27 constituencies, the Botswana People's Party in 13, and the Botswana Independence Party and Botswana Progressive Union in four.[2]

The campaign was focussed on economic issues linked to the effect on the diamond industry of droughts and recession.[3]

Results
PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Botswana Democratic Party154,86368.00290
Botswana National Front46,55020.444+2
Botswana People's Party14,9616.5710
Botswana Independence Party7,2883.2000
Botswana Progressive Union3,0361.330New
Independents1,0580.4600
Indirectly-elected members4–
Total227,756100.0038+2
Registered voters/turnout293,571–
Source: IPU, Nohlen et al.

Aftermath

Following the elections, Botswana National Front co-leader Kenneth Koma went to court to have the result in the Gaborone South constituency overturned; Koma had lost to Vice-President Peter Mmusi, but an unopened ballot box was discovered after the final count. The High Court annulled the result and a by-election was held in December in which Koma defeated Mmusi.[2]

References
  1. Dieter Nohlen, Michael Krennerich & Bernhard Thibaut (1999) Elections in Africa: A data handbook, p109 ISBN 0-19-829645-2
  2. Botswana: The September 1984 General Election EISA
  3. Botswana IPU
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