Bechuanaland general election, 1965

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Bechuanaland general election, 1965
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←  1961
1969  →
31 of the 35 seats in the National Assembly
Turnout 74.55%

 Majority partyMinority party
  Noimage.png
Leader Seretse Khama Philip Matante
Party BDP BPP
Seats won283
Popular vote113,16719,964
Percentage80.414.2
Elected Prime Minister

Seretse Khama
BDP

Botswana
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This article is part of a series on the
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Botswana
Constitution

General elections were held in the Bechuanaland Protectorate on 1 March 1965, the country's first election under universal suffrage. [1] The result was a landslide victory for the Bechuanaland Democratic Party, [2] with Seretse Khama becoming Prime Minister. Following the elections, the country became independent as Botswana on 30 September 1966, at which point Khama became President. [1] Voter turnout was 74.55% of the 188,950 registered voters. [3]

Bechuanaland Protectorate protectorate established on 31 March 1885, by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in southern Africa

The Bechuanaland Protectorate was a protectorate established on 31 March 1885, by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in southern Africa. It became the Republic of Botswana on 30 September 1966.

Universal suffrage Political concept

The concept of universal suffrage, also known as general suffrage or common suffrage, consists of the right to vote of all adult citizens, regardless of property ownership, income, race, or ethnicity, subject only to minor exceptions. In its original 19th-century usage by political reformers, universal suffrage was understood to mean only universal manhood suffrage; the vote was extended to women later, during the women's suffrage movement.

Botswana Democratic Party political party

The Botswana Democratic Party is the governing party in Botswana. Its chairman is the current Vice-President of the Republic of Botswana, Slumber Tsogwane. The previous party chairs include, among others, Mokgweetsi Masisi, Ponatshego Kedikilwe, Daniel Kwelagobe, Samson Guma Moyo, and Lieutenant General Ian Khama.

Contents

Campaign

The elections were contested by three main parties; [4] the Bechuanaland Democratic Party led by Khama, the Bechuanaland People's Party led by Philip Matante and the Bechuanaland Independence Party led by Motsamai Mpho. There was also a single independent candidate, G.E.N. Mannathoko, who ran in Tati West. [5] In the Lobatsi and Barolong constituency, there were two candidates from the Bechuanaland People's Party, one of which represented the Motsete branch. [5]

The Botswana People's Party (BPP) was formed as the Bechuanaland People's Party during Botswana's colonial era, in December 1960. As a result of disappointment with the Legislative Council, under the leadership of Kgalemang T. Motsete, an accomplished music composer and educationist, BPP became the first mass party to agitate for full independence.

Botswana Independence Party political party

The Botswana Independence Party (BIP) was a political party in Botswana that existed from 1964 to 1995.

Motsamai Keyecwe Mpho was a Motswana activist and politician. He founded Botswana's first political party in 1960, the Botswana People's Party, then known as the Bechualand People's Party, alongside Klaas Motshidisi, Kgalemang Motsete, and Philip Matante. However, due to conflict within the party, Mpho left and founded the Botswana Independence Party in 1964. He also served as a member of the National Assembly. Some historians believe that Mpho was the first to introduce the term 'Botswana' into formal political vocabulary, replacing the colonialist name of Bechuanaland.

Despite acceptance that the BDP was likely to win easily, there was widespread interest in the elections. The BDP was seen as a moderate party with responsible leaders and realistic policies; in contrast the leaders of the other parties were perceived to be quarrelsome and overly ethnocentric. [1] Three BDP candidates were elected unopposed in Ghanzi, Kgalagadi and Kweneng West. [5]

Ghanzi Place in Ghanzi District, Botswana

Ghanzi is a town in the middle of the Kalahari Desert the western part of the Republic of Botswana in southern Africa. At the time of the 2011 census, there were 12,167 people living in the town with another 861 nearby. It is the administrative center of Ghanzi District and is known as the "Capital of the Kalahari". Ghanzi District measures 117,910 square kilometres and is bordered by Ngamiland to the north, Central District to the east, and Kgalagadi and Kweneg Districts to the south. Its western border is shared with Namibia to 203km. Have shopping options in Spar, Choppis and food & stay at Kalahari Arms Hotel.

Kgalagadi District District in Botswana

Kgalagadi is a district in southwest Botswana, lying along the country's border with Namibia and South Africa. The administrative center is Tsabong. The district of Kgalagadi covers a large part of the Kalahari Desert. It has a total area of 105,200 km² and has a population of 42,000 (2001). More than one-third of the district is covered by the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, which extends into South Africa, and which is a major tourist attraction.

Kweneng District District in Botswana

Kweneng is one of the districts of Botswana and is the recent historical homeland of the Bakwena people, the first group in Botswana converted to Christianity by famed missionary David Livingstone. Various landmarks, including Livingstone's Cave, allude to this history. The seat of the district's government is Molepolole, Botswana's most populous village.

Results

PartyVotes%Seats
Bechuanaland Democratic Party 113,16780.428
Bechuanaland People's Party 19,96414.23
Bechuanaland Independence Party 6,4914.60
Bechuanaland People's Party (Motsete Branch)3770.30
Independents7890.60
Total140,78810031
Registered voters/turnout188,95074.5–
Source: Nohlen et al.

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Botswana: The 1965 Pre-Independence General Election EISA
  2. ↑ Nohlen, D, Krennerich, M & Thibaut, B (1999) Elections in Africa: A data handbook, p113 ISBN   0-19-829645-2
  3. ↑ Botswana: 1965 National Assembly results EISA
  4. ↑ Gossett, CW, and Lotshwao, K., 2009, Report on the 1965 General Election and the 1966 Local Government Election, Botswana Notes & Records, Vol. 41, pp.47-63
  5. 1 2 3 Botswana Election Results Election Passport
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