Politics of Botswana

Politics of Botswana
Constitution
Government President Duma Boko Vice-President Ndaba Gaolathe Boko cabinet
Parliament National Assembly Speaker: Dithapelo Keorapetse Ntlo ya Dikgosi (House of Chiefs) Constituencies
Judiciary High Court of Botswana
Administrative divisions Districts Sub-districts Villages
Elections Recent elections General: 2009 2014 2019 2024 Political parties List of general elections in Botswana
Foreign relations Minister of Foreign Affairs Minister: Phenyo Butale Diplomatic missions of / in Botswana Passport Visa requirements Visa policy
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Botswana is a parliamentary republic in which the President of Botswana is both head of state and head of government. The nation's politics are based heavily on British parliamentary politics and on traditional Batswana chiefdom. The legislature is made up of the unicameral National Assembly and the advisory body of tribal chiefs, the Ntlo ya Dikgosi. The National Assembly chooses the president, but once in office the president has significant authority over the legislature with only limited separation of powers.

The Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) ruled as the dominant party from 1966 to 2024; while elections are considered free and fair by observers, the BDP controlled the National Assembly since independence.

Political opposition often existed between factions in the BDP rather than through separate parties, though several opposition parties existed and regularly held a small number of seats in the National Assembly. The Umbrella for Democratic Change is a coalition of opposition parties, and won power on 1st November 2024.

Botswana achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1966. The BDP led by Seretse Khama formed the first government, and continued winning elections every five years. Quett Masire became president following Khama's death in 1980, and the BDP was enveloped by factionalism in the 1990s. This factionalism persisted through the presidencies of Festus Mogae from 1998 to 2008 and Ian Khama from 2008 to 2018. Khama's successor, Mokgweetsi Masisi, became president in 2018 and developed a strong political rivalry with Khama, which came to define politics in Botswana over the following years.

Elections were held on 30 October 2024, in which the Umbrella for Democratic Change won and took power, ending the BDP's rule since 1966, with Duma Boko being sworn in as President on 1st November 2024.

Botswana has an above average human rights record, and it is recognised by human rights groups as one of the strongest democracies in Africa. Economic policy in Botswana revolves around the nation's lucrative diamond industry, which makes up a significant portion of the economy. The country has been praised as an economic success as it pursued free market policies in the 20th century, and it has since shifted to more redistributive economic policy. Wealth inequality remains high and welfare programs are limited, but public services and infrastructure receive strong funding. Foreign policy in Botswana has historically emphasised multilateralism and realpolitik. Apartheid-era South Africa was the nation's primary foreign policy concern until 1994 and then instability in Zimbabwe thereafter.