Botswana Elections To Take Place October 23

The government of Botswana has informed citizens that elections will be held in October to fill the 57 national assembly vacancies and 490 local government vacancies.

Nomination of candidates shall be received on September 26th. In terms of the Presidential Elections (Supplementary Provisions) Act Cap.02:01 the nomination of candidates for the Office of President shall take place on the first Saturday following the expiry of 20 days after the dissolution of the National Assembly.

The nomination of candidates for the Office of President shall therefore be handed to the returning officer at the High Court at Gaborone on 21st September 2019 between 10am and 1pm, or between 2pm and 5pm.

Meanwhile the war of words between Masisi and Khama has heated up. The latest spat comes after President Masisi informed Khama that he had been relieved the position of Champion of the Vision 2036 Council.

Khama replied with a strongly worded statement;

"It was not clear in your correspondence when you stated initially that I am relieved of the position of Champion and in the next sentence you write I am immediately relieved as Champion which suggests reinstatement that contradicts the initial sentence. However, I will then assume based on the vindictive nature of your regime that the actual intention is to remove me as Champion by the outgoing President. If it is a spelling mistake, it reflects a comedy of errors typical of yourselves as well as not addressing me correctly."

Khama's response went on to criticise Masisi's "childish tactics" of attempting to remove him from all the positions he currently holds. This exchange comes after Khama said he will support the opposition against the ruling Botswana Democratic Party in the country's forthcoming elections.