Ruling party wins Botswana election

GABORONE – Botswana’s ruling party won a landslide victory in elections at the weekend, picking up the lion’s share of parliament seats in the diamond-rich southern African country, results showed yesterday.

With only seven seats left undecided, President Festus Mogae’s Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) won 38 seats while the opposition Botswana National Front trailed far behind with 11 seats and the Botswana Congress Party holding one, an official at the Independent Elections Commission said. The world’s leading producer of uncut diamonds, Botswana is also one of the most stable countries in Africa, having enjoyed uninterrupted civilian rule since independence in 1966.The BDP has won every election in Botswana since the country formerly called Bechuanaland won independence from British rule 38 years ago.Mogae, 65, was declared winner of the presidency late on Sunday after it became clear that his party had won a majority.”I congratulate you and congratulate the voters for having confidence in him,” said Chief Justice Julian Nganunu.A presidential inauguration is due to be held today.Mogae, an Oxford-educated economist, has pledged continuity in the runup to the vote, telling voters that under his party’s rule, Botswana had enjoyed success as a peaceful and prosperous country.The country of 1,7 million people is also struggling with the world’s second highest AIDS infection rate after Swaziland, at 37,3 per cent, according to the UN AIDS agency.- Nampa-AFPThe world’s leading producer of uncut diamonds, Botswana is also one of the most stable countries in Africa, having enjoyed uninterrupted civilian rule since independence in 1966.The BDP has won every election in Botswana since the country formerly called Bechuanaland won independence from British rule 38 years ago.Mogae, 65, was declared winner of the presidency late on Sunday after it became clear that his party had won a majority.”I congratulate you and congratulate the voters for having confidence in him,” said Chief Justice Julian Nganunu.A presidential inauguration is due to be held today.Mogae, an Oxford-educated economist, has pledged continuity in the runup to the vote, telling voters that under his party’s rule, Botswana had enjoyed success as a peaceful and prosperous country.The country of 1,7 million people is also struggling with the world’s second highest AIDS infection rate after Swaziland, at 37,3 per cent, according to the UN AIDS agency.- Nampa-AFP