2024 Botswana general election

Following the 2019 elections, there were three opposing parties in the National Assembly: the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), the Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) and the Alliance for Progressives (AP). On 6 August 2022, the BPF joined the UDC alliance, uniting all opposition parties in the National Assembly save for the AP.[1]

However, the Botswana Congress Party (BCP), a major member of the UDC has expressed interest in leaving the UDC alliance after disagreements between Dumelang Saleshando and Duma Boko.[2] Saleshando had his position as Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly stripped away from him by the UDC.[3] Saleshando and the BCP had proposed forming a new electoral alliance composed of the AP and the newly formed Botswana Labour Party (BLP) ahead of the party's scheduled exit from the UDC at its July 2023 congress.[4] The two parties held a joint rally in November 2022.[5] On 15 April 2023, the AP withdrew from the coalition talks after unspecified disagreements with the BCP.[6]

Primaries for the 2024 elections are set to commence as early as this year. The BDP has plans to hold its primaries in the third quarter of 2023.[7] The BPF is set to hold its primaries in November 2023.[8]

For the 2024 elections, the membership of the National Assembly consists of 61 MPs elected in single-member constituencies by first-past-the-post voting, six members appointed by the governing party, and two ex-officio members (the President and the Speaker).[9]

Voters are required to be citizens of Botswana and at least 18 years old, and have been resident in the country for at least 12 months prior to voter registration. People who are declared insane, hold dual citizenship, under a death sentence, convicted of an electoral offence or imprisoned for at least six months are not allowed to vote.[10] Candidates have to be citizens of Botswana, at least 21 years old, without an undischarged bankruptcy and be able to speak and read English sufficiently well to take part in parliamentary proceedings.[10] They must also obtain a nomination from at least two voters in their constituency and the support of seven. A deposit is required, which is refunded if the candidate receives at least 5% of the vote in the constituency. Members of the Ntlo ya Dikgosi cannot stand for election to the National Assembly.[10]

The President of Botswana will be elected by the National Assembly after the general elections.

In accordance with section 64. (1) of the Constitution of Botswana, a Delimitation Commission was appointed on 13 May 2022 (following the release of the decennial 2022 Botswana Census) to redistribute the constituencies of the National Assembly. The National Assembly passed a bill increasing the number of constituencies by four seats from 57 to 61 seats.[11]

Consultations with the public and various interest groups ran from 20 June to 28 November 2022. The Commission presented its finalised report to the President on 10 February 2023.[12]

Current composition of the National Assembly

The table below lists the political parties represented in the 12th National Assembly.