By Brian Benza
Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Masisi on Friday conceded defeat after preliminary results showed his party had lost its parliamentary majority in this week’s election, ending nearly six decades in power.
The private Mmegi newspaper and state radio reported that the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) had lost by a landslide, citing results from over half the constituencies.
The opposition coalition Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) was leading, putting its leader, lawyer Duma Boko, on track to win the presidency. Boko has not yet publicly spoken.
“Although I wanted to stay on as your president, I respect the will of the people and I congratulate the president-elect. I will step aside and I will support the new administration,” Masisi said at a press conference.
Analysts had said the election would be competitive, although the BDP had still been widely expected to prevail. It has ruled the southern African country of 2.3 million
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