GABORONE: Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Masisi has lost in general elections in a shocking defeat that removes the Botswana Democratic Party from Government for the first time in 58 years.
The new President expected to be Duma Boko of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) that passed the 31-seat threshold needed to secure a majority in parliament, according to results released on state television.
Masisi immediately conceded defeat nd said he would step down as the country’s leader as final results showed his Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) trailing in fourth place.
“We got it wrong big time in the eyes of the people,” Masisi told a news conference in the capital, Gaborone.
“I wish to congratulate the opposition on their victory and concede the election,” Masisi said.
The results are expected to be confirmed by the electoral commission later this afternoon.
Under the country’s electoral system, the first party to take 31 of 61 seats in the legislature will be declared the winner, install its candidate as president and form a government.
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