Some have declared 2024 a busy election calendar for Africa, with 19 countries holding presidential or general elections. According to the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, African countries undergoing or having undergone elections in 2024 have a combined population of around 310 million, of which 58%—or over 180 million people—are eligible to vote. Mauritius has the highest percentage of the population eligible to vote (80%).
The same report also indicates that 62.8% of Botswana’s population is eligible to vote. The Botswana general election will be held on Wednesday, 30 October 2024, to determine the composition of the 13 the Parliament and local councils across the country. Sixty-one seats of the national assembly and 609 council seats are up for election, all elected through the first-past-the-post voting system.
Since independence in 1966, Botswana has established itself as an example of democracy in the region, characterised by free and fair elections.
In the article ‘The 2019 Elections in Botswana: Context, History and Future,” published in Nokoko journal, Chris Brown suggests that “[Botswana] .. is the only country … [in Africa] …that came to independence during the 1960s that has had uninterrupted constitutional rule since that time.” Making Botswana the oldest uninterrupted democracy in Africa. Like many others in the regions, Botswana was a British protectorate before independence, then known as Bechuanaland. Botswana attained independence on September 30, 1966, marking a significant milestone in its political history.
The first general elections were held in October of the same year, paving the way for a democratic government. It has held elections every five years since then. The role of the media becomes even more crucial during the election process to ensure that Batswana have uninterrupted access to information and critical public engagement, including election results. Stay connected to Botswana Television (BTV) on DStv channel 289 ,YTV Botswana, DStv channel 291, Yarona Fm, DStv Channel 917, Gabz Fm, DStv Channel 844, Duma Fm, DStv Channel 919, NewzRoom Afrika, DStv Channel 405,eNCA, Dstv Channel 403, Aljazeera, DStv Channel 406 and SABC News, on DStv Channel 404 for election updates.
