IFES

Oct. 23, 2019 Date not confirmed

Botswana

Republic of Bostwana

Election for Botswana Presidency

More Info:

At Stake in this Election:       

  • The office of President of Botswana.

Government Structure:

  • Chief of State: President Mokgweetsi MASISI (since April 1, 2018)
  • Head of Government: President Mokgweetsi MASISI (since April 1, 2018)
  • Assembly: Botswana has a unicameral Parliament consisting of the National Assembly with 63 seats.

* The president is both the chief of state and head of government.

Electoral System:

  • The President is elected by indirect vote to serve a 5-year term[1].*
  • In the National Assembly, which has 63 seats, 57 members are directly elected by popular vote, 4 members are appointed by the majority party, and 2 members, the President and Attorney General, serve as ex-officio members to serve 5-year terms.
  • In the House of Chiefs (Ntlo ya Dikgosi), an advisory 35-member body, 8 members are ex-officio members consisting of the chiefs of the principal tribes, and 27 non-permanent members, serve 5-year terms, of which 22 are indirectly elected. The 5 remaining members are appointed by the President.[2]

* Generally, it is the person nominated by the party who has the majority in parliament.

Main Candidates in this Election:

  • Candidate: Mokgweetsi MASIS
    • Party: Botswana Democratic Party (BDP)
  • Candidate: Duma BOKO
    • Party: Umbrella for Democratic Change
  • Candidate: Biggie BUTALE
    • Party: Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF)
  • Candidate: Ndaba GAOLATHE
    • Party: Alliance for Progressives

Population and Registered Voters:

  • Population: 2,304,000 (2019 est.)[3]
  • Registered Voters: 824,073 (2014 est.)[4]

Gender Data:

  • Female Population: 1,190,000 (2019 est.)[5]
  • Is Botswana a signatory to CEDAW: N/A
  • Has Botswana ratified CEDAW: Yes (13 Aug 1996)[6]
  • Gender Quota: No[7]
  • Female Candidates in this election: Yes
  • Number of Female Legislators: 6 (9.5%)[8]
  • Human Development Index (HDI) Position: 101[9]
  • Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: N/A

Disability Data:

  • Is Botswana a signatory to CRPD: No
  • Has Botswana ratified CRPD: No
  • Population with a disability: 327,408 (2019 est.)[10]