The poll’s got the thumbs up from the country’s neighbours.

Ian Khama’s won a second term as president and will be sworn in tomorrow.

The Botswana Democratic Party takes credit for moving the diamond-rich country from a poor cattle-herding protectorate to one of the richest per-capita African nations.

Ian Khama, son of the indepedendence leader Seretse Kahma, had to fight off a challenge from a new political alliance and a breakaway party.

The BDP won a comfortable parliamentary majority in the 61-member parliament albeit with eight seats fewer than they captured in 2009.

The new opposition capitalised on unemployment caused by diamond prices falling in the global economic crisis that year.

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President Ian Khama ‘s expected to win a second term in office, but he faces a more unified and invigorated opposition.

Local media, that regularly tastes the wrath of the ruling Botswana Democratic Party, calls these parliamentary elections judgement day.

President Ian Khama’s emphasised the party’s successes in its long history in office.
since independence from Britain in 1966.
He’s having a tough time in urban areas, where opposition
parties have made some inroads since the formation of a breakaway party, the
Botswana Movement for Democracy, four years ago.
As a traditional chief of the Bangwato clan he can count on strong
rural support.
He’ll be voting in the central town of Serowe, where his father Seretse and another former president Festus Mogae have their roots.

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Botswana goes to the polls to the polls tomorrow after the fiercest election campaign since independence nearly 50 years ago.

The opposition to the ruling Botswana Democratic Party has achieved an unprecedented  unity. It’s hoping to profit from 18% unemployment and increasing corruption in South Africa’s diamond-rich western neighbour.

The Botswana Democatic Party is struggling to retain its grip on power.

It faces an uncharacteristically cohesive opposition, including independent candidates who are former members of the ruling party.

The BDP’s image’s been dented by the way the party conducted its primaries.

President Ian Khama, who’s been in power since 2008 is popular for  generous social programmes that have brought Botswana greater economic equality than most other African countries.

But critics of the government say his anti-corruption record is becoming eroded, with several ministers and senior officials having been taken to court on graft charges.

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Heading a party that split since he first took the reins, Ian Khama is seeking a second mandate as president

Nasty developments in the run up to the most closely contested Botswana election show a gap between the country’s reputation and reality.

These include the suspicious car crash last month killing opposition politician Gomolemo Motswaledi.

And the kidnapping and torture of another opposition politicians by agents of the Directorate of Intelligence and Security Services.

There have been other threats and attacks on government opponents.

The long ruling Botswana Democratic party has also resorted to media harassment in its efforts to stay in power.

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At his final rally last weekend,  the teetotal disciplinarian made it clear he’s running on the no-nonsense ticket that brought him to power in 2008.

In the past it’s been Botswana’s disparate opposition that’s made it easier for the Botswana Democratic Party to stay in power.

But this time the BDM faces its own breakaway party in the shape of the Botswana Movement for Democracy.
President Ian Khama offers the 824 000 voters a stark choice:
If they want to move forward, vote for the BDP and if they want to move
backwards vote for the opposition parties.
He’s proud of his record of building dams and pipelines and increasing power generation for a diamond-rich country thirsting for water.

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