1969 Botswana general election

General elections were held in Botswana on 18 October 1969, the first since independence in September 1966. With 140,428 registered voters, a decrease from the 188,950 in 1965, turnout was 54.73%.[1] The result was a second successive landslide victory for the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), who won 24 of the 31 elected seats,[2] including three in which they were unopposed.[3]

1969 Botswana general election

18 October 1969
31 of the 35 seats in the National Assembly 16 seats needed for a majority
Registered	140,428
Turnout	76,858 (54.73%)
Majority party Minority party   BNF Leader Seretse Khama Bathoen Gaseitsiwe Party BDP BNF Leader's seat Serowe North Kanye South Last election 80.38% Did not contest Seats before 28 Seats won 24 3 Seat change 4 3 Popular vote 52,218 10,410 Percentage 68.21% 13.60% Swing 12.17   Third party Fourth party   BPP BIP Leader Philip Matante Motsamai Mpho Party BPP BIP Leader's seat Francistown Okavango Last election 14.18 4.61 Seats before 3 0 Seats won 3 1 Seat change 1 Popular vote 19,964 19,964 Percentage 12.19% 6.00% Swing 2.01 1.39
Results by constituency
President before election Seretse Khama BDP Elected President Seretse Khama BDP

Campaign

A total of 77 candidates contested the elections. The BDP put up a full slate of 31 candidates, whilst the Botswana National Front had 21, the Botswana People's Party had 15, the Botswana Independence Party had nine, and there was also a single independent candidate.[3]

The Botswana National Front was founded following the 1965 elections, and was headed by Kenneth Koma. However, Koma was overshadowed by Bathoen II, the paramount chief of the Bangwaketse. Bathoen abdicated his throne to become BNF president, and had also resigned from the Ntlo ya Dikgosi, which he regarded as powerless.[3] He was the first traditional leader to run in an election.[3]

Results

Party	Votes	%	Seats	+/–
Botswana Democratic Party	52,218	68.3	24	–4
Botswana National Front	10,410	13.5	3	New
Botswana People's Party	9,329	12.1	3	0
Botswana Independence Party	4,601	6.0	1	+1
Total	76,858	100	31	0
Registered voters/turnout	140 428	54.7	–	–
Source: Nohlen et al.

References

1. Botswana: 1969 National Assembly results Archived 2010-05-11 at the Wayback Machine EISA
2. Nohlen, D, Krennerich, M & Thibaut, B (1999) Elections in Africa: A data handbook, p113 ISBN 0-19-829645-2
3. Botswana: The October 1969 General Election Archived 2010-03-19 at the Wayback Machine EISA