VZCZCXRO2926
RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHOR #0815 2911604
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 181604Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY GABORONE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6109
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC

UNCLAS GABORONE 000815 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR AF/S, DRL 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV KDEM BC
SUBJECT: Botswana: Khama Retains Presidency 
 
REF: A) GABORONE 799 
B) GABORONE 786 
 
¶1. Botswana held its tenth general election on Friday October 16. 
According to observers from the Southern African Development 
Community (SADC), who issued a preliminary statement October 18, the 
polls were "credible, peaceful, free, and fair."  Diplomatic 
observers, including three teams from the U.S. Embassy, concurred 
with this assessment.  Ballots for the Parliamentary election were 
counted in each constituency, with results trickling in throughout 
the day October 17 and into October 18.  However, late on October 17 
the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) had won more than 29 
Parliamentary seats, and Chief Justice Julian Nganunu officially 
announced that the BDP presidential candidate, incumbent Ian Khama, 
has been elected President.  (Note: As explained reftels, Botswana's 
President is not directly elected.  If a party obtains more than 50% 
of Parliamentary seats, the Chief Justice certifies that party's 
presidential candidate as the winner.  End Note.) 
 
¶2. Botswana's Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) held a press 
conference on October 18 and announced the final Parliamentary 
results.  The BDP won 45 Parliamentary seats, while the Botswana 
National Front (BNF) took 6 seats, and the Botswana Congress Party 
(BCP) and its partner the Botswana Alliance Movement (BAM) took 5 
constituencies, with the final one Parliamentary seat going to an 
independent candidate.  According to the IEC, about 76% of 
registered voters (554,586 people) cast ballots on October 16.  The 
BDP received 290,099 total Parliamentary votes (53% of valid votes), 
while BNF obtained 119,509 (22%), and the BCP/BAM alliance garnered 
116,689 (21%).  The 14 independent candidates together obtained 
10,464 votes (2%), with the remaining two percent of votes going to 
small parties which obtained no Parliamentary seats. 
 
¶3.  Media reports indicate that President Khama will be sworn-in on 
Tuesday October 20.  As reported reftels, we expect the inauguration 
to be relatively small and that the resident heads of diplomatic 
missions will be invited to represent their governments.  Post will 
send additional analysis of the election results septel. 
 
 
NOLAN