(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – The long-governing Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) continues to be the most popular political organization in the African country, according to a poll by the University of Botswana Faculty and Afrobarometer. 69 per cent of respondents would vote for the BDP’s candidate in the next presidential election.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – The long-governing Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) continues to be the most popular political organization in the African country, according to a poll by the University of Botswana Faculty and Afrobarometer. 69 per cent of respondents would vote for the BDP’s candidate in the next presidential election.
The candidate of the Botswana National Front (BNF) is a distant second with 13 per cent. Support is lower for contenders from the Botswana Congress Party (BCP), the Botswana Alliance Movement (BAM), and the Botswana People’s Party (BPP).
The BDP has governed the African nation since it attained independence from Britain in 1966. Presidents are elected every five years by the National Assembly. Current president Ian Khama took office in April 2008, following the resignation of Festus Mogae.
Last month, BCP vice-president Kesitegile Gobotswang harshly criticized the president, declaring, "When Khama was inaugurated on April 1, 2008, I dismissed the transition because it was an April Fool’s Day anyway. I knew him as a retired tyrant from the military barracks and I discarded the notion that he was a democrat who would stick to democratic principles. How could a despot become a democrat out of the blue?"
Botswana is expected to hold a legislative election in October 2009.
Polling Data
If a presidential election were held tomorrow, which party’s candidate would you vote for?
|
Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) |
69% |
|
Botswana National Front (BNF) |
13% |
|
Botswana Congress Party (BCP) |
8% |
|
Botswana Alliance Movement (BAM) |
1% |
|
Botswana People’s Party (BPP) |
1% |
|
Would not vote |
5% |
|
Refused to answer |
2% |
|
Don’t know |
1% |
Source: University of Botswana Faculty / Afrobarometer
Methodology: Face-to-face interviews with 1,200 Botswanan adults, conducted from Sept. 28 to Oct. 16, 2008. Margin of error is 3 per cent.
