The electoral defeat delivered to the Botswana Democratic Party led by Mokgweetsi Masisi was met with incredulity in neighbouring states. Not many expected the party that had run the country comfortably since independence in 1966 to be so roundly defeated in national elections on 30 October 2024. Of the 61 seats in the national assembly, the Umbrella for Democratic Change coalition won 36 seats, the Botswana Congress Party 15. The Botswana Patriotic Front won five seats, the Botswana Democratic Party four, and an independent candidate won one seat. Batswana cast their ballots for opposition leader Duma Boko, who is largely unknown outside the country. Who is he? What does he stand for, what challenges does he face in his new role? We turned to David Sebudubudu, a political scientist at the University of Botswana, for answers.
Who is Duma Boko and what does he stand for?
Duma Boko is the leader of the Botswana National Front and president of an opposition coalition, the Umbrella for Democratic Change. He played a crucial role in the process of forming the coalition in 2012 by three political parties: the Botswana National Front, the Botswana Movement for Democracy and the Botswana People’s Party. For the 2024 elections, the coalition included the Botswana National Front, the Alliance for Progressives and the Botswana People’s Party.
