| Country | Botswana |
|---|---|
| Previous election | 1965 Bechuanaland general election |
| Previous year | 1965 |
| Outgoing members | 1st Parliament of Botswana |
| Election date | 18 October 1969 |
| Next election | 1974 Botswana general election |
| Next year | 1974 |
| Elected members | 2nd Parliament of Botswana |
| Seats for election | 31 of the 35 seats in the National Assembly |
| Majority seats | 16 |
| Registered | 140,428 |
| Turnout | 54.73% (of registered voters) (19.81pp) 37.46% (of eligible population) (32.00pp)[n 1] |
| Leader 1 | Seretse Khama |
| Party 1 | Botswana Democratic Party |
| Last election 1 | 80.38%, 28 seats |
| Leaders seat 1 | Serowe North |
| Seats 1 | 24 |
| Seat change 1 | 4 |
| Popular vote 1 | 52,518 |
| Percentage 1 | 68.33% |
| Swing 1 | 12.05pp |
| Leader 2 | Bathoen Gaseitsiwe |
| Party 2 | Botswana National Front |
| Leaders seat 2 | Kanye South |
| Last election 2 | – |
| Seats 2 | 3 |
| Seat change 2 | New |
| Popular vote 2 | 10,410 |
| Percentage 2 | 13.54% |
| Swing 2 | New |
| Leader 4 | Philip Matante |
| Party 4 | BPP |
| Last election 4 | 14.18%, 3 seats |
| Leaders seat 4 | Francistown/Tati East |
| Seats 4 | 3 |
| Popular vote 4 | 9,964 |
| Percentage 4 | 12.14% |
| Swing 4 | 2.04pp |
| Leader 5 | Motsamai Mpho |
| Party 5 | BIP |
| Leaders seat 5 | Okavango |
| Last election 5 | 4.61%, 0 seats |
| Seats 5 | 1 |
| Seat change 5 | 1 |
| Popular vote 5 | 4,601 |
| Percentage 5 | 5.99% |
| Swing 5 | 1.38pp |
| Before election | Seretse Khama |
| Before party | BDP |
| After election | Seretse Khama |
| After party | BDP |
General elections were held in Botswana on 18 October 1969, the first since independence in September 1966. The result was a second successive landslide victory for the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), who won 24 of the 31 elected seats,[1] including three in which they were unopposed.[2]
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.[2]
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.[2] He was the first traditional leader to run in an election.[2]
Notes
- ^ National Study On Voter Apathy in Botswana. IEC Botswana. 2022. p. 17.
References
- ^ Dieter Nohlen, Michael Krennerich & Bernhard Thibaut (1999) Elections in Africa: A data handbook, p113 ISBN 0-19-829645-2
- ^ Botswana: The October 1969 General Election EISA