AP News
GABORONE, Botswana (AP) — Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Masisi conceded defeat in the general election Friday, in a seismic moment of change for the county that ended the ruling party’s 58 years in power since independence from Britain in the 1960s.
Masisi’s concession came before final results were announced, with his Botswana Democratic Party trailing in fourth place in the parliamentary elections in what appeared to be a humbling rejection by voters.
The main opposition Umbrella for Democratic Change held a strong lead in the partial results, making its candidate, Duma Boko, the favorite to become president of a southern African country that is one of the world’s biggest producers of mined diamonds.
Masisi said he had called Boko to inform him he was conceding defeat and said that Boko was now effectively the president-elect.
Final results were expected to be announced later Friday.
“I concede the election,” Masisi said in an early-morning press conference two days after the vote. “I am proud of our democratic processes. Although I wanted a second term, I will respectfully step as ide and participate in a smooth transition process.”
