Across Africa, voters are responding to corruption and economic fragility by overturning decades of rule

In a stunning result that ran counter to much of the pre-election analysis and expectations, the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), which had ruled Botswana since the country’s first post-independence election in 1966, lost its parliamentary majority in last Wednesday’s elections by a landslide. The long-ruling party won only four of the 61 seats in the National Assembly, down from the 38 it won in the last general election five years ago.

These trends evince the political consequences of rising distrust among the public in countries across southern Africa. Citizens are increasingly distrustful of political elites and long-established ruling parties, which are widely seen as having failed to promote the wellbeing of all citizens, instead pushing policies that have contributed to economic stagnation, maintained social inequity, and worsened environmental conditions.

https://responsiblestatecraft.org/botswana-election/

 

Citizen populism is in the air – everywhere!