Voting Begins in Botswana General Elections

Botswana voted in general elections on Wednesday, to elect a National Assembly, with the largest party then choosing the president. Over a million people are registered to vote in the country of some 2.3 million, according to the electoral commission. Four presidential candidates are in the race to head the country. President Mokgweetsi Masisi, 63, seeks to secure a second and final term in office. His Democratic Party (BDP) has governed the southern African state since 1966 and remains the favourite to win. The BDP faces a fragmented opposition with its biggest challenge coming from the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), a coalition led by lawyer Duma Boko. Two other parties have put forward candidates for president. Election results are usually announced within a few days. Source: Qatar News Agency