Oct 30,2024: In the midst of a punishing drought and a massive drop in diamond revenue, up to 1 million eligible voters in Botswana are heading to the polls in a tense general election on Wednesday.
Africa’s longest-serving democracy is considered one of the continent’s most stable countries, having peacefully transitioned power in all elections since independence from Britain in the 1960s. However, there are fears this time that there might be post-election violence.
“There are tensions in the country due to the shifting political landscape,” election observer Tendai Mbanje of the African Centre for Governance Election Observation told Al Jazeera. “Unlike in the past, there is increased political competition.”
The landlocked southern African country runs an indirect election system: Voters will elect parliament members. The head of the governing party at the end of the vote count is then appointed as president for the next five years.
Blessed with precious stones and the world’s second-largest diamond reserves after Russia, Botswana has abundant natural wealth. It also boasts the world’s largest elephant population.
Although slightly larger in size than France, Botswana’s population is less than 4 percent of France’s. There are only 2.5 million people spread sparsely across the country which has the Kalahari Desert covering much of its territory.
