Botswana general election, 1984

Botswana

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General elections were held in Botswana on 8 September 1984.^[1] Although the result was a fifth successive landslide victory for the Botswana Democratic Party, which won 29 of the 34 elected seats, the elections saw the opposition Botswana National Front make gains, winning both seats in the capital Gaborone and take control of all urban councils except Selebi-Phikwe in the simultaneous local elections.^[2]

Background

Following the death of President Seretse Khama in 1980, the 1984 elections were the first contested with Quett Masire as leader of the BDP.

Electoral system

The 34 elected members of the National Assembly were elected in single-member constituencies, an increased of two from the 1979 elections. Following the 1981 census, constituencies were redrawn and Gaborone was split into two.^[2]

Campaign

A total of 82 candidates contested the election as party representatives, with the BDP being the only party to contest all 34 seats. The Botswana National Front ran in 27 constituencies, the Botswana People's Party in 13, and the Botswana Independence Party and Botswana Progressive Union in four.^[2]

The campaign was focussed on economic issues linked to the effect on the diamond industry of droughts and recession.^[3]

Results

Party	Votes	%	Seats	+/–
Botswana Democratic Party	154,863	68.0	29	0
Botswana National Front	46,550	20.4	4	+2
Botswana People's Party	14,961	6.6	1	0
Botswana Independence Party	7,288	3.2	0	0
Botswana Progressive Union	3,036	1.3	0	New
Independents	1,058	0.5	0	0
Indirectly elected members	–	–	4	–
Total	227,756	100	38	+2
Registered voters/turnout	293,571	77.6	–	–
Source: IPU, Nohlen et al.

Aftermath

Following the elections, Botswana National Front co-leader Kenneth Koma went to court to have the result in the Gaborone South constituency overturned; Koma had lost to Vice-President Peter Mmusi, but an unopened ballot box was discovered after the final count. The High Court annulled the result and a by-election was held in December in which Koma defeated Mmusi.^[2]

References

↑ Nohlen, D, Krennerich, M & Thibaut, B (1999) Elections in Africa: A data handbook, p109 ISBN 0-19-829645-2
1 2 3 4 Botswana: The September 1984 General Election EISA
↑ Botswana IPU

Elections and referendums in Botswana

General elections	1921 1924 1927 1930 1933 1936 1939 1942 1945 1948 1951 1954 1957 1961 1965 1969 1974 1979 1984 1989 1994 1999 2004 2009 2014

Local elections	1974 1979 1984 1989 1994 1999 2004 2009

Referendums	1987 1997 2001

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