Duma Boko

Last updated

His Excellency
Duma Boko
Duma Boko, 2019 elections (cropped).png
Boko in 2020
6th President of Botswana
Incumbent
Assumed office
1 November 2024

Duma Gideon Boko (born 1 January 1970) is a Motswana politician and lawyer currently serving as the sixth president of Botswana since 1 November 2024 and as leader of the Umbrella for Democratic Change since 2012. [1] He served as the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly from 2014 to 2019.

Contents

Duma Boko attained the presidency of the BNF in 2010. He led the creation of the Umbrella for Democratic Change, an alliance of the main opposition parties in Botswana. He ran as the alliance's president in Botswana's general elections in 2014 [2] and 2019. [3] At the 2024 election, he led his party to victory and was sworn in as President of Botswana on 1 November 2024. [4]

Early life

Despite being Xhosa, Duma Boko was born in Botswana's Central District, in the village of Mahalapye. [5] Boko's father worked as a lecturer at Madiba Brigades. He died in 2004. Duma has a sister, Emma Boko. [6]

In 1987, Boko studied law at University of Botswana (UB). He was elected to the Student Representative Council (SRC). Among his law classmates were High Court judges Michael Leburu, Key Dingake, Bengbame Sechele and Lot Moroka. After graduating in 1993, he attended Harvard Law School, where he obtained a Master of Laws degree. [7]

Career

Boko returned to teach law at University of Botswana from 1993 to 2003, [8] while also running a law firm. In the early 2000s, he wrote a column in the newspaper The Monitor in which he claimed that judges were not intellectually progressive. [6] He expressed frustration that academics and judges were not doing enough research to make informed judgements.

Politics

Boko became the leader of the Botswana National Front (BNF) in 2010. [9] His position and party membership was challenged on the grounds that when the BNF split in 2000, he had become a founding member of the National Democratic Front (NDF). [10] If proven, this would, according to the BNF constitution, disqualify him from a leadership position in the party for three years after rejoining it. He prevailed in court. He inherited a party that was in decline under the leadership of Otsweletse Moupo. [6]

The BNF came together with the newly formed Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD), a splinter of the Botswana Democratic Party, and the Botswana Peoples Party to form the Umbrella for Democratic Change. [11] Some BNF members were strongly against the coalition, arguing that the exercise would make their party disappear. [12] Lawsuits against Boko and his central committee were filed before the High Court. Boko and the BNF won all the court challenges. [13]

2014 General Election

In the 2014 general election, Duma Boko led the UDC to a second-place finish in the National Assembly, winning 17 seats to the Botswana Democratic Party's (BDP) 37. [14] [ dead link ] Boko became the leader of the Opposition.

2019 general election

In the 2019 general election, Boko was defeated by Anna Mokgethi of the BDP in the Gaborone Bonnington North constituency. As a result of his defeat, he lost his title of Leader of the Opposition in the 12th National Assembly. [15] Boko claimed that during the 2019 general election, there was massive vote rigging and fraud by the BDP to favour President Mokgweetsi Masisi. The current evidence is the discontinuation of election ink and an excess of voter's registration cards. [16]

2024 General Election

Despite both the Botswana Congress Party and Botswana Patriotic Front leaving the UDC, Boko's party, and the opposition as a whole, were able to take a majority of seats in the elections while reducing the long-dominant BDP to a rump of four seats. As leader of the majority alliance in the legislature, Boko became the president-elect. [17] He was sworn into office on 1 November, [18] with a more public ceremony held on 8 November. [19] Boko's ascent to the presidency marked the first time since 1966, when Botswana became independent, that a former opposition party has won an election. [20]

Presidency

As president, Boko stated his intention to granting temporary work and residence permits to undocumented Zimbabweans and renegotiate economic agreements with De Beers regarding Botswana's diamond industry. [21]

Publications

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Politics of Botswana</span>

Botswana is a parliamentary republic in which the President of Botswana is both head of state and head of government. The nation's politics are based heavily on British parliamentary politics and on traditional Batswana chiefdom. The legislature is made up of the unicameral National Assembly and the advisory body of tribal chiefs, the Ntlo ya Dikgosi. The National Assembly chooses the president, but once in office the president has significant authority over the legislature with only limited separation of powers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">President of Botswana</span> Head of state and government of Botswana

The President of the Republic of Botswana is the head of state and the head of government of Botswana, as well as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, according to the Constitution of Botswana. Sir Seretse Khama was the prime minister from 1965 to 1966, however he later became president of Botswana, and as of 2024 there have been no prime ministers since.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Botswana Democratic Party</span> Political party in Botswana

The Botswana Democratic Party is a political party in Botswana. It was the ruling party of Botswana for 58 years, from independence in 1966 until the 2024 general election. Its chairman is Slumber Tsogwane and its symbol is a lift jack. The BDP is sometimes classified as a paternalistic conservative party, but it is also a consultative member of the Socialist International, a worldwide alliance of social-democratic parties. The BDP was shaped primarily by two of its founders, Seretse Khama and Quett Ketumile Masire. Traditional Setswana communities make up the party's base, which has led the BDP to remain a conservative movement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Botswana National Front</span> Political party in Botswana

The Botswana National Front (BNF) is a social democratic political party in Botswana. It was the main opposition party in Botswana from the 1969 elections until the 2024 elections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Botswana Congress Party</span> Political party in Botswana

The Botswana Congress Party (BCP) is a social democratic political party in Botswana. Founded in 1998 as a result of a split from the Botswana National Front (BNF), the party attracted most of the BNF's sitting MPs due to a leadership dispute involving the BNF's leader, Kenneth Koma.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ian Khama</span> Fourth president of Botswana from 2008 to 2018

Seretse Khama Ian Khama is a Botswana politician and former military officer who was the fourth President of the Republic of Botswana from 1 April 2008 to 1 April 2018. After serving as Commander of the Botswana Defence Force, he entered politics and was Vice-President of Botswana from 1998 to 2008, then succeeded Festus Mogae as President on 1 April 2008. He won a full term in the 2009 election and was re-elected in October 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Botswana Movement for Democracy</span> Political party in Botswana

The Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) is a political party in Botswana, founded in 2010 by MPs and other politicians who parted ways with the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) due to differences with Ian Khama, the leader of the BDP and the President of Botswana at the time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 Botswana general election</span>

General and local elections were held in Botswana on 24 October 2014. The result was an eleventh straight victory for the Botswana Democratic Party, which won 37 of the 57 elected seats. Incumbent President Ian Khama was sworn in for a second term on 28 October.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Umbrella for Democratic Change</span> Alliance of political parties in Botswana

The Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) is a centre-left to left-wing alliance of political parties in Botswana. Since the 2024 Botswana general election, the UDC has been the governing alliance of political parties.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mokgweetsi Masisi</span> President of Botswana from 2018 to 2024

Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi is a Motswana politician and former President of Botswana, who served between 1 April 2018 to 1 November 2024. He served as the 8th Vice President of Botswana from 12 November 2014 to 1 April 2018. He was a Member of Parliament in the National Assembly for the Moshupa-Manyana constituency from 2009 to 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 Botswana general election</span>

General elections were held in Botswana on 23 October 2019 to elect MPs and local government councillors. Despite a high profile split in the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) in May 2019 when former President Ian Khama left the party and switched his support to the new Botswana Patriotic Front, the BDP's vote share increased to almost 53% as the party won 38 of the 57 elected seats in the National Assembly, a gain of one compared to the 2014 elections. The elections were the twelfth and the last straight victory for the BDP.

Botswana held a general election in October 2019. Though it was more competitive than previous elections, it resulted in a victory for the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) and won an addition term for President Mokgweetsi Masisi. Botswana saw an escalation in the rivalry between Masisi and his predecessor Ian Khama, with Khama leaving the Botswana Democratic Party to support the Botswana Patriotic Front and the Umbrella for Democratic Change. Following the BDP's victory, opposition leaders challenged the results of the election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Botswana Patriotic Front</span> Political party in Botswana

The Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) is a populist political party in Botswana formed in July 2019 by members of the Botswana Democratic Party who split from the party because of a high-profile rivalry between former presidents Ian Khama and Mokgweetsi Masisi.

Anna Maria Mokgethi is a Motswana politician serving as the Minister of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs since November 2019. She is the Member of Parliament for Gaborone Bonnington North. Mokgethi is a member of the Botswana Democratic Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2024 Botswana general election</span>

General elections were held in Botswana on 30 October 2024 to determine the composition of the 13th Parliament of Botswana as well as local councils across the country. Up for election were 61 seats of the National Assembly as well as 609 local council seats, all elected through the first-past-the-post voting system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">12th Parliament of Botswana</span> 2019-2024 meeting of the Botswana National Assembly

The 12th Parliament of Botswana was the meeting of the National Assembly, the unicameral legislature of the Parliament of Botswana, with the membership determined by the results of the general election held on 23 October 2019. The legislature convened for the first time on 5 November 2019 and was dissolved on the 5th of September 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gaborone Bonnington North</span> Parliamentary constituency in Gaborone, 2012 onwards

Gaborone Bonnington North is a constituency in Gaborone City represented in the National Assembly of Botswana. With an area of 23 km2, Gaborone Bonnington North is the second smallest constituency of Botswana after Gaborone Bonnington South.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shoshong (Botswana constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the Central District of Botswana, 1965 onwards

Shoshong is a constituency in the Central District represented in the National Assembly of Botswana by Aubrey Lesaso, a BDP MP and Assistant Minister for Tertiary Education, originally elected as a UDC MP in 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boko cabinet</span> Government of Botswana since 2024

The Boko cabinet is the current cabinet of Botswana, established on 1 November 2024. This cabinet is the 16th in Botswana's history and was formed following the 2024 general election. It marks the first time since independence in 1966 that the cabinet is not led by the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), ending the party's 58-year rule over Botswana.

Ndaba Nkosinathi Gaolathe is a Motswana economist and politician, currently serving as Vice-President of Botswana since 7 November 2024, under President Duma Boko. Gaolathe is the leader of the Alliance for Progressives, one of the parties within the ruling coalition Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC). He is also an elected member of the National Assembly of Botswana for the Gaborone Bonnington South constituency since the 2024 elections, a position he previously held from 2014 to 2019.

References

  1. ↑ "Duma Boko sworn in as Botswana's new president". www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
  2. ↑ Independent Electoral Commission – Botswana National Assembly, 2014
  3. ↑ Tafa, Abednego B.; Zuze, Keireng A. (2 December 2019). Report to the Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration on the 2019 General Elections (PDF) (Report). Independent Electoral Commission Batswana. p. 19. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  4. ↑ Kupemba, Danai Nesta (2 November 2024). "Botswana's politician who did the unthinkable". BBC News . Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  5. ↑ "Botswana election: Duma Boko - the politician who did the unthinkable". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 7 November 2024.
  6. 1 2 3 "Meet Your Hero. President Duma Gideon Boko. UDC Presidential Candidate Botswana". Democracy Heroes Award. Archived from the original on 5 March 2024. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  7. ↑ Mathala, Sharon (8 September 2017). "The loo flushes away BMD'S woes". The Voice. Archived from the original on 20 February 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  8. ↑ "President Duma Boko". Umbrella for Democratic change. UDC. Archived from the original on 7 October 2017. Retrieved 6 October 2017.
  9. ↑ "Mmegi Online :: Boko victorious; elected BNF president". Mmegi Online. 22 July 2010. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  10. ↑ "BNF backs Boko's membership claim". Sunday Standard. 11 July 2010. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  11. ↑ "Brief History | UDC". www.udc.org.bw. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  12. ↑ Mehler, Andreas (1 January 2013). "V. Central Africa". Africa Yearbook Volume 9. BRILL. pp. 451–454. doi:10.1163/9789004256002_006. ISBN   978-90-04-25600-2.
  13. ↑ Kaelo, Goitsemodimo (29 July 2019). "Boko Wins 'Principal Residence' Objection Case". Mmegi Online. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  14. ↑ "Elections Botswana". Elections Botswana. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  15. ↑ Basimanebotlhe, Tsaone (18 November 2019). "Duma Boko Petitions Constituency Election Outcome". Mmegi Online. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  16. ↑ "Massive vote rigging uncovered in Botswana elections, claims opposition leader Duma Boko". News24. 5 December 2019. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  17. ↑ Benza, Brian (1 November 2024). "Botswana voters kick out ruling party of nearly six decades". Reuters . Retrieved 1 November 2024.
  18. ↑ Roberts, Brownwen (1 November 2024). "Botswana's new president sworn in after historic election upset". Yahoo News. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
  19. ↑ Motseta, Sello (9 November 2024). "Thousands turn out for inauguration of Botswana's new president, who calls for unity". Associated Press. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  20. ↑ Sebudubudu, David (6 November 2024). "Botswana's new president: who is Duma Boko and what does he stand for?". The Conversation. Retrieved 7 November 2024.
  21. ↑ Lakaje, Mpho (8 November 2024). "Botswana to legalise undocumented Zimbabweans - president". BBC. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
Political offices
Preceded by President of Botswana
2024–present		Incumbent
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.