1969 Botswana general election

General elections were held in Botswana on 18 October 1969, the first since independence in September 1966. The result was a second successive landslide victory for the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), who won 24 of the 31 elected seats,^[1] including three in which they were unopposed.^[2]

1969 Botswana general election

← 1965 18 October 1969 1974 →
← outgoing members elected members →
31 of the 35 seats in the National Assembly 16 seats needed for a majority
Registered	140,428
Majority party Minority party   Leader Seretse Khama Bathoen Gaseitsiwe Party BDP BNF Leader's seat Serowe North Kanye South Last election 80.38%, 28 seats – Seats won 24 3 Seat change 4 New Popular vote 52,518 10,410 Percentage 68.33% 13.54% Swing 12.05pp New   Third party Fourth party   Leader Philip Matante Motsamai Mpho Party BPP BIP Leader's seat Francistown/Tati East Okavango Last election 14.18%, 3 seats 4.61%, 0 seats Seats won 3 1 Seat change 1 Popular vote 9,964 4,601 Percentage 12.14% 5.99% Swing 2.04pp 1.38pp
Results by constituency
President before election Seretse Khama BDP Elected President Seretse Khama BDP

Campaign

A total of 77 candidates contested the elections. The BDP put up a full slate of 31 candidates, whilst the Botswana National Front had 21, the Botswana People's Party had 15, the Botswana Independence Party had nine, and there was also a single independent candidate.^[2]

The Botswana National Front was founded following the 1965 elections, and was headed by Kenneth Koma. However, Koma was overshadowed by Bathoen II, the paramount chief of the Bangwaketse. Bathoen abdicated his throne to become BNF president, and had also resigned from the Ntlo ya Dikgosi, which he regarded as powerless.^[2] He was the first traditional leader to run in an election.^[2]

Results

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Botswana Democratic Party	52,518	68.33	24	–4
	Botswana National Front	10,410	13.54	3	New
	Botswana People's Party	9,329	12.14	3	0
	Botswana Independence Party	4,601	5.99	1	+1
Indirectly-elected members				4	0
Total		76,858	100.00	35	0
Registered voters/turnout		140,428	–
Source: Nohlen et al.

References

1. Dieter Nohlen, Michael Krennerich & Bernhard Thibaut (1999) Elections in Africa: A data handbook, p113 ISBN 0-19-829645-2
2. Botswana: The October 1969 General Election EISA