Okavango (Botswana constituency)

Last updated
Okavango
Former Single-member constituency
for the National Assembly
Botswana National Assembly - Okavango Constituency (2014-2024).svg
Boundary of Okavango in Botswana
District North-West District
Population44,690 [1]
Area32,095 km2
Former constituency
Created1965
Abolished2024
Replaced by Okavango East
Okavango West

Okavango was a constituency in the North-West District. Following the completion of the 2022 Delimitation of Parliamentary constituencies, the existing seat was abolished and replaced by two new constituencies, Okavango East and Okavango West , to be first contested in the upcoming 2024 general election. [2]

Contents

Constituency profile

The Okavango constituency was located in the north of North-West District and existed with the majority of its boundaries intact from the first inaugural elections in 1965 until 2024, making it one of the longest-running constituencies in Botswana's electoral history.

Throughout its existence, Okavango has generally remained an opposition stronghold and the region that has voted the least for the BDP since Botswana's independence (the party only won the constituency in 1965, 1979 and 2004). Between 1969 and 1979 it was represented by the BIP, between 1984 and 1999 by the BNF and from 1999 to 2024 it voted mostly for BCP candidates. In 2022, the delimitation commission recommended the division of Okavango into two constituencies, abolishing the constituency.

The constituency, predominantly rural, encompassed the following villages: [3]

  1. Ikoga
  2. Sepopa
  3. Nxamasere
  4. Samochema
  5. Shakawe
  6. Gani
  7. Mohembo East
  8. Tsodilo
  9. Chukumuchu
  10. Nxauxau
  11. Tobera
  12. Mohembo West
  13. Kauxwi
  14. Xakao
  15. Sekondomboro
  16. Nkarange
  17. Mogotlho
  18. Seronga
  19. Gonutsuga
  20. Eretsha
  21. Beetsha
  22. Gudigwa

Members of Parliament

Key:  BDP   BIP   BNF   BCP   UDC

ElectionWinner
1965 election Tsheko Tsheko
1969 election Motsamai Mpho
1974 election
1979 election Bailang Salepito
1984 election Joseph Kavindama
1989 election
1994 election
1999 election
2004 election Vister Moruti
2009 election Bagalatia Arone
2014 election
2019 election Kenny Kapinga

Election results

2019 election

General election 2019: Okavango [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
UDC Kenny Kapinga 7,577 51.11 –5.28
BDP Mbahahauka Kambimba6,81645.98+2.38
AP Kabelo Mahupe4322.91N/A
Margin of victory7615.13−5.95
Total valid votes14,82599.10+0.47
Rejected ballots1340.90−0.47
Turnout 14,95984.86+1.37
Registered electors 17,628
UDC hold Swing –1.45

2014 election

General election 2014: Okavango [5]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
BCP Bagalatia Arone 6,864 54.68 −4.36
BDP Mbahahauka Kambimba5,47343.60+2.64
UDC Vister Moruti2151.71−39.25
Margin of victory1,39111.08−7.0
Total valid votes12,55298.63+1.68
Rejected ballots1741.37−1.68
Turnout 12,72683.49+6.89
Registered electors 15,243
BCP hold Swing −3.5

2009 election

General election 2009: Okavango [6]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
BCP Bagalatia Arone 6,211 59.04 +14.0
BDP Vister Moruti4,30940.96−7.07
Margin of victory1.90218.08N/A
Total valid votes10,52096.95+0.53
Rejected ballots3313.05−0.53
Turnout 10,85176.60−6.48
Registered electors 14,166
BCP gain from BDP Swing +10.54

2004 election

General election 2004: Okavango [7]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
BDP Vister Moruti 4,025 48.03 +4.21
BCP Joseph Kavindama 3,77445.04+1.03
BAM Sakuze Otukeseng5816.93−2.6
Margin of victory4337.67N/A
Total valid votes8,38096.42−3.33
Rejected ballots3113.58+3.33
Turnout 8,69183.08−4.13
Registered electors 10,461
BDP gain from BCP Swing +1.50

1999 election

General election 1999: Okavango [8]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
BCP Joseph Kavindama 4,308 44.01 −7.01
BDP Vister Moruti4,22643.18−8.10
BAM M. Kwamovu9339.53+4.38
BNF S.A. Sitemo3213.28−47.74
Margin of victory820.83−15.11
Total valid votes9,78893.09N/A
Rejected ballots7266.91N/A
Turnout 10,51478.95+11.49
Registered electors 13,318
BCP hold Swing −7.56

1994 election

General election 1994: Okavango
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
BNF Joseph Kavindama 3,181 51.02 +4.95
BDP Vister Moruti2,18735.08+0.57
IFP M. M. Mogae1,39213.91−5.5
Margin of victory99415.94+4.38
Turnout 6,23567.46+6.73
Registered electors 9,242
BNF hold Swing +2.76

1989 election

General election 1989: Okavango
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
BNF Joseph Kavindama 3,304 46.07 +6.98
BDP Vister Moruti2,47534.51+4.48
BIP Motsamai Mpho 1,39219.41−11.47
Margin of victory82911.56+3.35
Turnout 7,17160.73−12.05
Registered electors 11,808
BNF hold Swing +5.73

1984 election

General election 1984: Okavango
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
BNF Joseph Kavindama 2,719 39.09 +35.12
BIP Motsamai Mpho 2,14830.88−4.87
BDP Bailang Salepito2,08930.03−30.25
Margin of victory5718.21N/A
Turnout 6,95672.78+14.55
Registered electors 9,557
BNF gain from BDP Swing +20.0

1979 election

General election 1979: Okavango [9]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
BDP Bailang Salepito 4,099 60.28 +12.13
BIP Motsamai Mpho 2,43135.75−16.1
Independent Joseph Kavindama2703.97N/A
Margin of victory1,66824.53N/A
Turnout 6,80058.23+33.07
Registered electors 11,678
BDP gain from BIP Swing +14.11

1974 election

General election 1974: Okavango [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
BIP Motsamai Mpho 1,204 51.85 −4.33
BDP Modisang Modisang1,11848.15+4.33
Margin of victory853.7−8.66
Turnout 2,32225.16−22.11
Registered electors 9,230
BIP hold Swing −4.33

1969 election

General election 1969: Okavango [11]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
BIP Motsamai Mpho 1,923 56.18 +9.84
BDP Tsheko Tsheko1,50043.82−9.84
Margin of victory42312.36N/A
Turnout 3,42347.27N/A
Registered electors 7,241
BIP gain from BDP Swing +9.84

1965 election

General election 1965: Okavango [12]
PartyCandidateVotes%
BDP Tsheko Tsheko 1,929 53.66
BIP Motsamai Mpho 1,66646.34
Margin of victory2637.32
Turnout 3,595N/A
Registered electors N/A
BDP win (new seat)

References

  1. ↑ 2022 DELIMITATION COMMISSION REPORT (PDF). 2022. p. 7. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2025-08-26. Retrieved 2024-01-31.
  2. ↑ 2022 DELIMITATION COMMISSION REPORT (PDF). 2022. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2025-08-26. Retrieved 2024-01-31.
  3. ↑ REPORT OF THE DELIMITATION COMMISSION, 2012 (PDF). 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2025-06-18. Retrieved 2024-01-31.
  4. ↑ "Independent Electoral Commission - Botswana National Assembly, 2019" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2024-06-08. Retrieved 2024-01-31.
  5. ↑ "Independent Electoral Commission - Botswana National Assembly, 2014" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2022-06-28. Retrieved 2024-01-31.
  6. ↑ Independent Electoral Commission - Botswana National Assembly, 2009
  7. ↑ Independent Electoral Commission - Botswana National Assembly, 2004
  8. ↑ Independent Electoral Commission - Botswana National Assembly, 1999
  9. ↑ Democracy in the face of a weak Opposition in Botswana, Brian T. Mokopakgosi & Mpho G. Molomo (2000)
  10. ↑ Report to the Minister of State on the general elections, 1974 (PDF). Supervisor of Elections. 1974.
  11. ↑ "Report on the General Elections 1969" (PDF). 1969.
  12. ↑ Gossett, Charles W.; Kebapetse, Lotshwao (21 April 2013). "Report on the 1965 General Election and the 1966 Local Government Election". Botswana Notes & Records. 41. Rochester, NY: Social Science Research Network (published 2009): 17. Retrieved 2024-01-27.
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