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WORLD NEWS Monday 21 october 2019

Botswana, calm for decades, faces surprising election fight

Kobela Makgato, head of more assertive in this cam- has a chance to unseat the
the ruling party's women's paign. "I would like to see ruling party.
wing. Khama retiring with dignity "The prospect of winning
"He should just let go," she and going to his farm," she the election is high," said
said. She isn't worried by his said, expressing her wish the Rev. Prince Dibeela,
high-profile campaigning to see Botswana change vice president of the op-
against former colleagues: after years with the same position Botswana National
"He comes for flying visits. people in charge. "He is Front and a candidate for
I am on the ground every very hypocritical, because a parliament seat. "Peo-
day." he headed the regime for ple are tired with the mis-
Kamogela Phatsimo, a 10 years and now he is dis- management of the BDP.
student at the Botswana crediting the party." People want change and
International University of Emboldened by such pub- the Umbrella for Demo-
Science and Technology, lic impatience, opposition cratic Change is a viable
said the opposition is being leaders say their coalition alternative."q

In this April 5, 2019, photo, Botswana's President Mokgweetsi
Masisi, center, is photographed at a rally in Gaborone,
Botswana.
Associated Press
By SELLO MOTSETA lecturer at the University of
Associated Press Botswana.
GABORONE, Botswana (AP) Khama stepped down last
— Botswana's ruling party year following two terms in
faces the tightest election office after positioning for-
of its history on Wednes- mer deputy Masisi to take
day after former President over the diamond-rich,
Ian Khama, annoyed with landlocked nation that
his hand-picked successor, lies north of South Africa.
announced his support for Khama later decided to
the opposition, shaking up openly support the opposi-
one of Africa's most stable tion coalition Umbrella for
countries. Democratic Change and
The influential Khama, son its presidential candidate,
of founding President Ser- human rights lawyer Duma
etse Khama, withdrew his Boko.
support after current Presi- Botswana, with 925,000
dent Mokgweetsi Masisi registered voters in a popu-
broke with some of his poli- lation of 2.2 million, has en-
cies, including by loosen- joyed stability and peace-
ing restrictions on elephant ful elections for more than
hunting in an apparent bid 50 years.
to appeal to rural voters. Masisi in a presidential de-
Some Botswanan analysts bate this month said he
say Khama defected from would accept an election
his own Botswana Demo- loss, while Boko was non-
cratic Party because Masisi committal.
challenged his control of In an opinion piece for For-
the party, which has been eign Policy magazine earli-
in power since indepen- er this month, Boko warned
dence in 1966, and target- that Masisi and his support-
ed some Khama allies in an ers "will chip away at Bo-
anti-corruption drive. tswana's reputation as a
"There is now a growing democratic success story
recognition that Masisi, in Africa."
who has been in office Some in Botswana have
for barely a year, must be criticized the former presi-
given a chance to rule. The dent's rejection of his own
Khama effect is slowly be- party.
ginning to fade," said Leon- Khama is just trying to ex-
ard Sesa, senior politics tend his power, said Dorcas