2004 Botswana general election

General elections were held in Botswana on 30 October 2004, alongside local elections. The result was a ninth straight victory for the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), which won 44 of the 57 seats in the National Assembly.

2004 Botswana general election

30 October 2004 (2004-10-30)

57 of the 63 seats to the National Assembly
Turnout76.20% (0.91%)
  First party Second party Third party
 
BNF
BCP
Leader Festus Mogae Otsweletse Moupo Otlaadisa Koosaletse
Party BDP BNF BCP
Leader since 1 April 1998 2001
Leader's seat not running Selibe Phikwe West Lobatse
Last election 33 seats, 57.15% 6 seats, 25.95% 1 seats, 11.90%
Seats won 44 12 1
Seat change 11 6 0
Popular vote 213,308 107,451 68,556
Percentage 51.73% 26.06% 16.62%
Swing 5.42% 0.11% 4.72%

President before election

Festus Mogae
BDP

Elected President

Festus Mogae
BDP

Background

The Independent Electoral Commission had a campaign to encourage voter registration, with a target of registering at 500,000 voters. Although it achieved its target, registering around 61% of the estimated 900,000 voting-age population, the opposition Botswana National Front (BNF) accused it of making errors in the registration process.[1]

Campaign

For the first time, the election campaign involved parties using billboards. However, the opposition claimed that their media access was restricted, and a study by the Media Institute of Southern Africa showed that the BDP had received over 50% of the election coverage.[1] The BDP campaigned on promises to improve training, expand electricity and water supplies and amend laws that discriminated against women. The campaign of the opposition parties focussed on unemployment and poverty.[1] However, although the BNF, Botswana Alliance Movement (BAM) and Botswana People's Party (BPP), entered into an electoral pact agreement in 2003, their campaigns were marked by open personal attacks between them and their leaders.

Fifty-six of the 57 constituencies were contested, with Vice President Ian Khama unopposed in the Serowe North constituency.[1]

Conduct

For the first time, international monitors were able to observe the elections, with delegations from the Southern African Development Community, the African Union, the Commonwealth and the United Nations in attendance. There were 11,000 personnel from the Independent Electoral Commission involved in running the elections.[1]

Results

PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Botswana Democratic Party213,30851.7344+11
Botswana National Front107,45126.0612+6
Botswana Congress Party68,55616.6210
Botswana Alliance Movement11,7162.8400
Botswana People's Party7,8861.910New
New Democratic Front3,2370.780New
MELS Movement of Botswana1210.0300
Independents1040.0300
Indirectly-elected seats6+2
Total412,379100.0063+19
Valid votes412,37997.89
Invalid/blank votes8,8932.11
Total votes421,272100.00
Registered voters/turnout552,84976.20
Source: African Elections Database

References

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