DECISION TIME President Masisi sets Wednesday October 30 as election day

Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi announced this Tuesday that this year’s general election will be held on  Wednesday of October 30, with both election day and Thursday 31 October set to be a public holidays to allow for people to travel to their voting stations.

The announcement of the date comes on the backdrop of apprehension by some who felt that there was likely to be a change from the norm with elections held later than October. Masisi’s announcement finally put to bed such fears, although the fears seem misguided as the 2019 election date was also set on September 2, 2019.

“Following the diligent preparations by the Independent Electoral Commission, the general elections will take place on Wednesday, October 30, 2024,” said Masisi in a televised speech.

Masisi further explained that his decision to declare public holidays was to promote higher voter turnout, urging all the citizens of Botswana to embrace this opportunity and exercise their democratic rights.

Parliament will thus be dissolved on September 5, followed by the nomination of presidential candidates on September 28.

61 National Assembly seats and 609 council seats will be up for grabs and  a party that will win 31 seats in the National Assembly will win the election.

Seven presidential candidates for this election will be Masisi of Botswana Democratic Party, Thuso Tiego of Botswana Movement for Democracy, Gaontebale Mokgosi of Real Alternative Party, Duma Boko of Umbrella for Democratic Change, Biggie Butale of Botswana Republican Party, Dumelang Saleshando of Botswana Congress Party and Mephato Reatile of Botswana Patriotic Front.