Shoshong (Botswana constituency)

Last updated
Shoshong
Single-member constituency
for the National Assembly
Botswana National Assembly - Shoshong Constituency (2014-2024).svg
Boundary of Shoshong in Botswana
District Central District
Population31,267 [1]
Area10,580 km2
Current constituency
Created1965
Party  BDP
MP Aubrey Lesaso
Margin of victory 2,174 (35.4 pp)

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.

Contents

Constituency profile

Situated in the southeast of the Central District of Botswana, the Shoshong constituency was established in 1965 for the country's inaugural elections and is one of Botswana's longest extant constituencies.

Reflecting the dominant Ngwato population, the constituency was historically a Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) stronghold. From 1965 to 2014, the BDP consistently garnered an average of 80% of the vote. However, since the turn of the century, the BDP's dominance began to wane, with its vote share decreasing in each subsequent election.

In 2019, echoing a broader trend within the district, a significant political realignment occurred as Ian Khama, paramount chief of the Ngwato tribe fell out with the incumbent president, Mokgweetsi Masisi and leader of the BDP. This political discord impacted the constituency's voting patterns. [2] [3] The 2019 election saw a significant 22-point swing towards the opposition Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) from the BDP, marking their strongest national performance and the first time an opposition party won Shoshong.

The constituency, predominantly rural, encompasses the following villages: [4]

  1. Shoshong
  2. Mmutlane
  3. Kalamare
  4. Bonwapitse
  5. Mosolotshane
  6. Ikongwe
  7. Kodibeleng
  8. Otse
  9. Mokgenene
  10. Poloka
  11. Moralane
  12. Dibete

Members of Parliament

Key:  BDP   UDC

ElectionWinner
1965 election Goareng Mosinyi
1969 election
1974 election
1979 election
1984 election
1989 election Esther Mosinyi
1994 election Modibedi Robi
1999 election Gobopang Lefhoko
2004 election
2009 election Dikgang Makgalemele
2014 election
2019 election Aubrey Lesaso

Election results

2019 election

General election 2019: Shoshong [5]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
UDC Aubrey Lesaso 5,377 65.02 +22.69
BDP Dikgang Makgalemele 3,84329.61−21.78
AP Brine Mogametsi6975.37New
Margin of victory2,17435.40N/A
Total valid votes12,97798.39+0.50
Rejected ballots2131.61−0.50
Turnout 13,19082.63–3.34
Registered electors 15,962
UDC gain from BDP Swing +22.24

2014 election

General election 2014: Shoshong [6]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
BDP Dikgang Makgalemele 5,377 51.39 −4.64
UDC Aubrey Lesaso 4,42942.33+5.09
BCP Pono Magowe4133.95−2.78
Independent Tibe Tibe2442.33New
Margin of victory9489.06–9.74
Total valid votes10,46397.89+0.77
Rejected ballots2262.11−0.77
Turnout 10,68985.97+9.21
Registered electors 12,434
BDP hold Swing −0.23

2009 election

General election 2009: Shoshong [7]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
BDP Dikgang Makgalemele 4,820 56.03 −8.43
BNF Aubrey Lesaso 3,20337.24+4.33
BCP Senalebeng Mokgosi5796.73−0.03
Margin of victory1,61718.80−8.62
Total valid votes8,60297.12−0.94
Rejected ballots2552.88+0.94
Turnout 8,85776.76−4.74
Registered electors 11,538
BDP hold Swing −2.05

2004 election

General election 2004: Shoshong [8]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
BDP Gobopang Lefhoko 3,391 64.46 −5.58
BNF Patrick Malakaila1,85032.91+6.92
BCP Gontlefela Mokongwa3806.76+2.79
Margin of victory1,54127.42−16.63
Total valid votes5,62198.06+3.30
Rejected ballots3621.94−3.30
Turnout 5,98381.50+7.28
Registered electors 7,341
BDP hold Swing +0.67

1999 election

General election 1999: Shoshong [9]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
BDP Gobopang Lefhoko 4,589 70.04 −3.36
BNF D. T. Morotsi1,70325.99−0.61
BCP S. J. Mphoyakgosi2603.97New
Margin of victory2,88644.05−2.74
Total valid votes6,55294.76N/A
Rejected ballots3625.24N/A
Turnout 6,91474.22+1.81
Registered electors 9,315
BDP hold Swing −1.38

1994 election

General election 1994: Shoshong [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
BDP Modibedi Robi 4,315 73.40 −12.40
BNF Bailekae Ramahosi1,56426.60+12.40
Margin of victory2,75146.79−24.81
Turnout 5,87972.41+10.13
Registered electors 8,119
BDP hold Swing –12.40

1989 election

General election 1989: Shoshong [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
BDP Esther Mosinyi 3,910 85.80 −11.16
BNF Bailekae Ramahosi64714.20+11.16
Margin of victory3,26371.60−22.33
Turnout 4,55762.28−11.01
Registered electors 7,317
BDP hold Swing –11.16

1984 election

General election 1984: Shoshong
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
BDP Goareng Mosinyi 4,630 96.96 +0.17
BNF Bailekae Ramahosi1453.04−0.17
Margin of victory4,48593.93+0.36
Turnout 4,77573.29+3.97
Registered electors 6,515
BDP hold Swing +0.17

1979 election

General election 1979: Shoshong [11]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
BDP Goareng Mosinyi 4,909 96.79 +2.17
BIP M. M. Tlale1633.21−2.17
Margin of victory4,74693.57+4.33
Turnout 5,07269.32+32.42
Registered electors 7,317
BDP hold Swing +2.17

1974 election

General election 1974: Shoshong [12]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
BDP Goareng Mosinyi 2,885 94.62 −1.25
BIP M. M. Tlale1645.38+1.25
Margin of victory2,72189.24−2.51
Turnout 3,04936.90−26.97
Registered electors 8,262
BDP hold Swing –1.25

1969 election

General election 1969: Shoshong [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
BDP Goareng Mosinyi 4,274 95.87 +1.39
BIP M. M. Tlale1844.13−0.39
Margin of victory4,09091.75+0.79
Turnout 3,42363.87N/A
Registered electors 6,980
BDP hold Swing +0.89

1965 election

General election 1965: Shoshong [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%
BDP Goareng Mosinyi 6,295 95.48
BIP M.M. Tlale2984.52
Margin of victory5,99790.96
Turnout 6,593N/A
Registered electors N/A
BDP win (new seat)

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References

  1. ↑ 2022 DELIMITATION COMMISSION REPORT (PDF). 2022. p. 44.
  2. ↑ Seabo, Batlang; Nyenhuis, Robert (2021-11-23). "Botswana's 2019 General Elections: A Referendum on General Ian Khama". African Studies Review. 64 (4): 854–883. doi:10.1017/asr.2021.69. ISSN   0002-0206. S2CID   244539238.
  3. ↑ Basimanebotlhe, Tsaone (2022-10-10). "Serowe constituencies vulnerable as BPF rumpus continues". Mmegi Online . Retrieved 2024-04-12.
  4. ↑ REPORT OF THE DELIMITATION COMMISSION, 2012 (PDF). 2012.
  5. ↑ Independent Electoral Commission - Botswana National Assembly, 2019
  6. ↑ Independent Electoral Commission - Botswana National Assembly, 2014
  7. ↑ Independent Electoral Commission - Botswana National Assembly, 2009
  8. ↑ Independent Electoral Commission - Botswana National Assembly, 2004
  9. ↑ Independent Electoral Commission - Botswana National Assembly, 1999
  10. 1 2 Results by constituency
  11. ↑ Democracy in the face of a weak Opposition in Botswana, Brian T. Mokopakgosi & Mpho G. Molomo (2000)
  12. ↑ Report to the Minister of State on the general elections, 1974 (PDF). Supervisor of Elections. 1974.
  13. ↑ "Report on the General Elections 1969" (PDF). 1969.
  14. ↑ 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): 54. Retrieved 2024-04-11.
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