The award’s gone unclaimed for five years because Sudanese philanthropist and telecoms billionaire Mo Ibrahim could not identify a deserving candidate.

Former liberation fighter Hifikepunya Pohamba succeeed Namibia’s independence president Sam Nujoma and served two terms.

He did not contest the poll last year where Hage Geingob was elected Namibia’s third president.

The Mo Ibrahim prize prize is worth $5m to Pohamba with a further $200 000 a year for life.

It was established in 2006 and Mozambican leader Joaquim Chissano was it’s first laureate.

Since then Botswana’s former president Festus Mogae and his counterpart from Cape Verde Pedro Pires are the only other winners.

Nelson Mandela was made an honorary laureate.

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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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