The red of Botswana's ruling party colors dominated a modest spread of campaign posters in the capital on Tuesday, as parties prepared for final rallies on the eve of elections.
Some posters of the blue-themed opposition Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) could be seen around the university, which is a bastion of support for the leftist coalition between the three main groups challenging the party in power for 58 years in Wednesday's vote.

But 63-year-old President Mokgweetsi Masisi's Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) was most visible in Gaborone, even as residents expressed hope for change in the diamond-rich and largely desert country of just 2.6 million people.
“Since our independence we have been ruled by the same people, with the same mentality, with the same goals,” said Okeditse Letshwenyo, 23.
Hopes that the UDC would bring about change were dashed when its two main partners – the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) and the Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) – led the vote to field their own presidential candidates, Letshwenyo. Resigned. Who is self-employed, said.

“As long as you are divided, you cannot win the BDP,” he said.
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The BDP has been in power since independence from Britain in 1966, when Botswana established a democratic system that is the oldest in Southern Africa.
It won 52 percent of the vote in the 2019 election, giving Masisi a first term in office that critics say has been marked by mismanagement amid a downturn in an economy dependent on diamonds, a key source of fiscal revenue.
According to the World Bank, economic growth is expected to slow to one percent in 2024, which was 2.7 percent last year.

Unemployment is around 27 percent, rising to 38 percent among youth.
'Historical pace'
Sharon Setshwantsho, a 22-year-old waitress, said she would vote for change that would bring jobs to Botswana's youth.
“We have certificates, we went to school, but we are on the streets,” she said.
However, some youth said they felt sidelined in the election day ordeal.
“The campaign has given me no reason to vote,” said Mpho Keorapetse, a 21-year-old finance student who has not registered to cast her ballot.
“For the last few months or for the last year no one has been saying anything of substance.”
Pastor Masego Moleje, 55, also believes the UDC is the key to change.

The party leader, Duma Boko, 54, is “not very concerned about herself, but about the country,” she said.
“They want to create jobs for us and our children.”
The ruling party is reported to have strong support outside the capital, dominating election coverage on Botswana's only news channel, state-run BTV.

The independent Mamegi newspaper said, “With historic momentum and a weak opposition, it may lose its grip in all Gaborone constituencies, but the BDP's path to victory is not only probable, but increasingly clear.”
The campaign has been jolted by previous President Ian Khama's energetic election campaign, with the 71-year-old vowing to undo his “mistake” in choosing Masisi as his successor in 2018.
Khama primarily supports the BPF, which was founded by his supporters after Masisi dramatically left the ruling party just months after becoming president.
As his feud with Masisi deepened, Khama fled South Africa in 2021 and returned six weeks ago.

Analysts said Khama's efforts to discredit Masisi could fuel protests in some districts, but their impact was expected to be limited.
“I think they should let things go, let other parties win, not try to influence anything,” said Bokomoso Fatalhalefile, a 25-year-old vendor.
Voters will choose parties in national and constituency ballots in a first-past-the-post system, which requires only the largest number of seats to win, rather than 50 percent.
The party with the largest number of MPs in Parliament will form the government under the leadership of the presidential candidate.
AFP
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