1994 Botswana general election

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1994 Botswana general election - Wikipedia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

1994 Botswana general election

← 1989

15 October 1994

1999 →

← outgoing members

elected members →

40 of the 44 seats in the National Assembly
21 seats needed for a majority

Registered

370,169

	Majority party	Minority party

Leader	Quett Masire	Kenneth Koma
Party	BDP	BNF
Leader's seat	None^[a]	Gaborone South
Last election	64.78%, 31 seats	26.95%, 3 seats
Seats won	27^[b]	13
Seat change	4	10
Popular vote	154,705	105,109
Percentage	54.59%	37.09%
Swing	10.19pp	10.14pp

Results by constituency

President before election

Quett Masire
BDP

Elected President

Quett Masire
BDP

Politics of Botswana


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v t e

General elections were held in Botswana on 15 October 1994, alongside simultaneous local elections. The result was a victory for the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP),^[1] which had won every election since 1965. However, the elections also saw a strong performance from the Botswana National Front (BNF), which tripled its number of MPs and won all four seats in the capital Gaborone.^[2]

Background

Following the 1991 census, constituency boundaries were redrawn and six new constituencies were created. Five of these were in urban areas, which was deemed to be a more realistic apportionment of constituencies; Gaborone gained three, Francistown one and Lobatse became a new constituency.^[3]

Campaign

The elections were contested by a record nine parties,^[2] with a total of 108 candidates running.^[3] The BNF considered boycotting the elections after the government refused to reform the electoral system or reduce the voting age from 21, but eventually contested the elections due to the belief that the government was vulnerable.^[3]

The BDP campaigned on its record of economic and political stability, whilst the BNF campaign centred on high rent and utility costs, as well as unemployment.^[2]

Results


Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Botswana Democratic Party	154,705	54.59	27	–4
	Botswana National Front	105,109	37.09	13	+10
	Botswana People's Party	11,586	4.09	0	0
	Independence Freedom Party	7,653	2.70	0	New
	Botswana Progressive Union	3,016	1.06	0	0
	United Democratic Front	783	0.28	0	New
	United Socialist Party	265	0.09	0	New
	Lesedi la Botswana	235	0.08	0	New
	Botswana Liberal Party	23	0.01	0	0
Indirectly-elected members				4	0
Total		283,375	100.00	44	+6

Registered voters/turnout		370,169	–
Source: Parliament of Botswana^[4]

The four indirectly elected members were elected on 26 October by members of the National Assembly, based on a list of eight candidates produced by President Ketumile Masire.

Aftermath

Following the elections, the National Assembly convened on 17 October to elect the President. Incumbent President Masire (BDP) was challenged by Kenneth Koma (BNF) and Knight Maripe (BPP). Masire was re-elected and inaugurated on 19 October.^[2] The new government was announced on 25 October.^[2]

In this election BNF would win the largest number of seats up until 2024 elections, when BNF would defeat BDP.

Notes

^ Incumbent presidents are ineligible to contest National Assembly seats; instead, they serve as ex-officio members of Parliament.
^ Includes Thamaga results (3,674 BDP vs 2,238 BNF), as election was postponed with the death of the BDP candidate.

References

^ Dieter Nohlen, Michael Krennerich & Bernhard Thibaut (1999) Elections in Africa: A data handbook, p113 ISBN 0-19-829645-2
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Elections held in 1994 IPU
^ ^a ^b ^c Botswana: The October 1994 General Election EISA
^ Parliament of Botswana

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