Botswana general election, 1994
Encyclopedia
General elections were held in Botswana
on 15 October 1994. They were fought between the Botswana Democratic Party
and four opposition parties. Forty seats in the Parliament were contested, with the largest opposition party, the Botswana National Front
making huge strides, as its representation increased from three to a record thirteen seats. The election was won by the BDP who obtained 27 seats in the new parliament, losing four seats despite the Parliament increasing from 34 to 40 seats. Voter turnout was 76.6%, at the time the second highest in the nation's history.
Botswana
Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana , is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa. The citizens are referred to as "Batswana" . Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966...
on 15 October 1994. They were fought between the Botswana Democratic Party
Botswana Democratic Party
The Botswana Democratic Party is the governing conservative party in Botswana. Its chairman is Daniel Kwelagobe.BDP was shaped by Sir Seretse Khama, who is celebrated for nurturing the economic and political success of Botswana. The party's base is in the traditional Setswana communities, and it...
and four opposition parties. Forty seats in the Parliament were contested, with the largest opposition party, the Botswana National Front
Botswana National Front
The Botswana National Front has been the main opposition party in Botswana since the 1969 elections.It achieved its greatest electoral success in the 1994 elections, when it won 37.1% of the vote and 13 of 40 parliamentary seats. A factional conflict in 1998 led to the departure of 11 of these...
making huge strides, as its representation increased from three to a record thirteen seats. The election was won by the BDP who obtained 27 seats in the new parliament, losing four seats despite the Parliament increasing from 34 to 40 seats. Voter turnout was 76.6%, at the time the second highest in the nation's history.
Results
| Party | Votes | % | Seats | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Botswana Democratic Party Botswana Democratic Party The Botswana Democratic Party is the governing conservative party in Botswana. Its chairman is Daniel Kwelagobe.BDP was shaped by Sir Seretse Khama, who is celebrated for nurturing the economic and political success of Botswana. The party's base is in the traditional Setswana communities, and it... |
154,687 | 54.7 | 27 | |
| Botswana National Front Botswana National Front The Botswana National Front has been the main opposition party in Botswana since the 1969 elections.It achieved its greatest electoral success in the 1994 elections, when it won 37.1% of the vote and 13 of 40 parliamentary seats. A factional conflict in 1998 led to the departure of 11 of these... |
104,435 | 36.9 | 13 | |
| Botswana People's Party Botswana People's Party The Botswana People’s Party is a progressive political party in Botswana, led by Bernard Balikani. BPP is the first political movement in Botswana having being formed in 1960. At the last general election, the party won no seats.-History:... |
11,586 | 4.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Independence Freedom Party | 7,658 | 2.7 | 0 | New |
| Botswana Progressive Union | 3,016 | 1.1 | 0 | 0 |
| United Democratic Front | 783 | 0.3 | 0 | New |
| United Socialist Party | 265 | 0.1 | 0 | New |
| Leedi la Botswana | 235 | 0.1 | 0 | New |
| Botswana Liberal Party | 23 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 283,375 | 100 | 40 | +6 |
| Source: Nohlen et al | ||||