1969 Botswana general election

General elections were held in Botswana on 18 October 1969, the first since independence in September 1966. The result was a second successive landslide victory for the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), who won 24 of the 31 elected seats,[1] including three in which they were unopposed.[2]

1969 Botswana general election

18 October 1969

31 of the 35 seats in the National Assembly
16 seats needed for a majority
Registered140,428
  Majority party Minority party
 
Leader Seretse Khama Bathoen Gaseitsiwe
Party BDP BNF
Last election 80.38%, 28 seats
Seats won 24 3
Seat change Decrease4 New
Popular vote 52,218 10,410
Percentage 68.21% 13.60%
Swing Decrease12.17pp New

  Third party Fourth party
 
Leader Philip Matante Motsamai Mpho
Party BPP BIP
Last election 14.18%, 3 seats 4.61%, 0 seats
Seats won 3 1
Seat change Steady Increase1
Popular vote 9,964 4,601
Percentage 12.19% 6.00%
Swing Decrease2.01pp Increase1.39pp

Results by constituency

President before election

Seretse Khama
BDP

Elected President

Seretse Khama
BDP

Campaign

A total of 77 candidates contested the elections. The BDP put up a full slate of 31 candidates, whilst the Botswana National Front had 21, the Botswana People's Party had 15, the Botswana Independence Party had nine, and there was also a single independent candidate.[2]

The Botswana National Front was founded following the 1965 elections, and was headed by Kenneth Koma. However, Koma was overshadowed by Bathoen II, the paramount chief of the Bangwaketse. Bathoen abdicated his throne to become BNF president, and had also resigned from the Ntlo ya Dikgosi, which he regarded as powerless.[2] He was the first traditional leader to run in an election.[2]

Results

PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Botswana Democratic Party52,21868.2124–4
Botswana National Front10,41013.603New
Botswana People's Party9,32912.1930
Botswana Independence Party4,6016.011+1
Indirectly-elected members40
Total76,558100.00350
Registered voters/turnout140,428
Source: Nohlen et al.

References

  1. Dieter Nohlen, Michael Krennerich & Bernhard Thibaut (1999) Elections in Africa: A data handbook, p113 ISBN 0-19-829645-2
  2. Botswana: The October 1969 General Election EISA
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