Kehinde Fajobi
Duma Boko was sworn in as Botswana’s new president on Friday, marking a historic shift in the country’s political landscape.
His landslide victory in the October 30 election ended nearly 60 years of rule by the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP).
Boko, 54, took the oath of office in front of thousands at the national stadium in the capital, Gaborone, with several southern African presidents, including those from Madagascar, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, in attendance.
“I stand before you today the living embodiment of your deep and true resolve,” Boko told the crowd.
“Together, we usher in a new political dawn. This is your story. Embrace it, be a part of it. Be it, acknowledge the role that you played, and continue to play in its unfolding.”
Boko’s party, the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), secured 36 seats in parliament, while the BDP, led by former president Mokgweetsi Masisi, won only four.
Masisi, who conceded defeat a week ago, was present at the event.
Dressed in the colours of the Botswana flag—blue shirt and black tie—Boko made a ceremonial entrance, circling the stadium in a vehicle flanked by white horses while waving to the cheering crowd.
The election, which saw an 80 percent voter turnout, was driven by concerns over unemployment and economic challenges, with young people, who made up about 34 percent of voters, playing a significant role.