Botswana votes, Khama seen retaining power

Botswana voted in a general election on Friday which is widely expected to see Ian Khama retain power as president while facing rising discontent as a recession hurts the world’s largest diamond producer.

Khama’s ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) is seen winning the presidential and parliamentary election, despite voter frustration over the state of the economy and internal squabbles which may undermine some of its support.

“I think they (BDP) are really not good. They have to change … there are not enough jobs and development,” said 22-year-old mass media intern Judith Fifing, a first-time voter.

Botswana has been hit by recession as a global slowdown cuts demand for diamonds, which account for close to 40 percent of the economy.

The crisis has forced Botswana, seen as one of Africa’s best-run countries with a history of budget surpluses and the region’s strongest currency, to plunge itself into debt. Gross domestic product is widely forecast to shrink 10 percent.

BDP INFIGHTING

Polls have closed and final results are expected on Saturday.

The BDP, which has ruled Botswana since independence in 1966, has been dogged by fierce infighting that could erode some support and help the opposition to gain ground in parliament.

Khama, son of the country’s first president, has been in heated arguments with the BDP’s chairman and suspended its secretary general, Gomolemo Motswaledi, for allegedly undermining his authority.

The row has intensified charges of autocracy and populism against Khama, a U.K.-trained army lieutenant-general who has said politics was never his first choice of career. He has dismissed suggestions that infighting could hurt his party.

“A lot of this factionalism is purely jockeying for positions, it’s all to do with power-play,” Khama said in an interview with South Africa’s Financial Mail weekly.

While the feuding could cut BDP support, main opposition Botswana National Front (BNF) does not have enough grassroots support to provide a serious challenge. It also has to contend with a splinter group, the Botswana Congress Party (BCP).

BCP deputy leader Kesitegile Gobotswang was optimistic about the opposition’s prospects, saying the BCP was aiming to win 21 of the 57 seats in parliament but would be happy with 14.

“I think looking at the people who voted today, all the queues, the opposition is really favoured by the elite and the youth,” he said.

“You could tell that the youth were determined to vote today and because of that we anticipate that the opposition is going to make an impact.”

It may not be possible, at least for now, for the opposition to capitalise on the financial challenges facing Khama.

Under the BDP, annual per capita income has risen to more than $5,000 and many voters feel the economic crisis cannot be directly blamed on the party.

“I support the ruling party. I have seen its achievements, and it’s stable compared to some of the opposition parties. There is free education, support for the aged in monetary terms and the needy people are given food. They (BDP) have done a lot,” 22-year-old student Kenaleone Kelebale said.

The BDP won 77.2 percent of the vote in the last election in 2004. In the recently dissolved parliament, it held 44 seats while the BNF had 12 and the BCP had 1.

Around 725,000 people are registered to vote and the winning party needs 29 of the 57 seats to choose their president.

Reuters.