Botswana president concedes election defeat, BDP loses power after 58 years
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President Mokgweetsi Masisi says he will ‘step aside’ after shock outcome for the governing Botswana Democratic Party.
Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Masisi has conceded defeat as preliminary results showed his governing party lost its parliamentary majority after nearly six decades in power.
Masisi’s concession on Friday came before the final results were announced, with his Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) trailing in fourth place, according to tallies by the electoral commission.
“We got it wrong big time in the eyes of the people,” Masisi told a news conference in the capital, Gaborone.
“We were really convinced of our message. But every indication, by any measure, is that there’s no way that I can pretend that we’re going to form a government.”
The president, who was seeking a second five-year term in Wednesday’s election, said he would “step aside”.
“I wish to congratulate the opposition on their victory and concede the election,” Masisi said.
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