Mokgweetsi Masisi was declared president of Botswana on Friday, retaining his position and the ruling Botswana Democratic Party’s long dominance of power despite a strong opposition challenge in this week’s election.
The BDP surpassed the 29-seat threshold needed in the national assembly to secure the presidency.
“The numbers of parliament seats attained so far by the BDP obliges me to declare Mokgweetsi Masisi as the elected president of Botswana,” Chief Justice Terrence Rannowane said.
Masisi, who has a solid record and is popular with business and farmers, thanked Batswana for voting for his party.
“I’m humbled & honoured that you again entrusted the BDP. As the President of Botswana for the next 5 years, I’m blessed & privileged to serve you & promise that I’ll continue to do so with integrity, compassion, humility & honesty,” he said on Twitter.
The BDP has ruled Botswana since independence from Britain in 1966 and the country has enjoyed stability and prosperity based on its diamond resources.
But Wednesday’s election posed its first genuine challenge in its five decades in power after former president and political heavyweight Ian Khama fell out with Masisi, his hand-picked successor, and backed the opposition Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC).
