Next Botswana general election

Next Botswana general election

By October 2029
61 of the 69 seats in the National Assembly 31 seats needed for a majority
Leader Duma Boko Dumelang Saleshando Party UDC BCP Leader's seat None Maun North Last election 37.22%, 36 seats 20.99%, 15 seats Current seats 36 15 Seats needed 16   BPF Leader Mephato Reatile Mokgweetsi Masisi (Outgoing) Party BPF BDP Leader's seat None None Last election 8.31%, 5 seats 30.49%, 4 seats Current seats 5 4 Seats needed 26 27
Incumbent President Duma Boko UDC

The next Botswana general election must be held no later than 5 January 2030, following the dissolution of the 13th Parliament of Botswana to renew the composition of the National Assembly and local councils, last elected on 30 October 2024.

Voters will elect 61 members to the National Assembly and 609 members to local councils across the country under the first-past-the-post voting system, in which all members are elected from single-member districts.

Due to long-standing convention, general elections are held in October, thus it is likely that the next general election will be held in October 2029.

However, the election could be called earlier if the President dissolves Parliament for a snap election or if the government loses a vote on a supply bill or a motion of no confidence. Given the current government's large parliamentary majority, this scenario is unlikely.

Background

The election held on 30 October 2024 saw the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) lose elections for the first time after being resoundingly defeated by the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) after nearly six-decades in power. In one of the worst defeats of a governing party in the Commonwealth, the BDP lost 90% of its parliamentary representation and was reduced to a rump of four seats out of 61, making it the smallest of the four factions represented in the National Assembly. The opposition alliance, UDC, emerged victorious by securing a majority of the directly elected seats in the National Assembly.

The table below shows to the composition of the National Assembly after the 2024 general election and summarises the changes in party affiliation that took place during the 2024–present Parliament.

Name			Ideology	Political position	Leader	2024 result		Current seats
						Percentage (%)	Seats
	UDC	Umbrella for Democratic Change	Social democracy Left-wing populism	Centre-left to left-wing	Duma Boko	37.22	36 / 61	36 / 61
	BCP	Botswana Congress Party	Social democracy	Centre-left	Dumelang Saleshando	20.99	15 / 61	15 / 61
	BPF	Botswana Patriotic Front	Populism Pro-Ian Khama	Big tent	Mephato Reatile	8.31	5 / 61	5 / 61
	BDP	Botswana Democratic Party	Paternalistic conservatism	Centre to centre-right	Mokgweetsi Masisi (Outgoing)	30.49	4 / 61	4 / 61
	Independents					2.45	1 / 61	1 / 61

Electoral system

For the next general election, 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).

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. 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. 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 (House of Chiefs) cannot stand for election to the National Assembly.

The president is indirectly elected for a five-year term by the National Assembly. Since 1997, presidents are limited to a maximum of ten years in office, whether consecutive or not. The president's survival is dependent on whether their government has the support of a simple majority of the National Assembly MPs. He can be removed by a motion of no confidence, prompting their resignation or if not, the dissolution of parliament if the president refuses to do so.

During the general election campaign, all candidates for the National Assembly declare whom they endorse for President when they lodge their nomination papers. If a party or alliance secures an absolute majority of elected MPs in the legislative elections, its presidential candidate–always the party or alliance's leader–becomes president without the need for an investiture vote. In practice, since legislative elections are conducted through first-past-the-post voting, this has been the norm, with Botswana always having majority governments ever since the inaugural election in 1965.

In the event that no candidate secures a simple majority, the National Assembly elects the president through secret ballot, with a simple majority of the total number of MPs (excluding 'specially-elected' MPs) required to win. This election is limited to candidates who have the support of at least 10 MPs. If, after three rounds of voting, no candidate is elected, two additional rounds may be authorized by the speaker, if it is deemed that a successful election remains possible. Should these rounds also fail to produce a winner, or if the speaker declines to authorize further rounds, the National Assembly will be dissolved, and new elections will be held.