Boko, 54, inaugurated simply 9 days after his social gathering beat the Botswana Democratic Social gathering, which ruled for six a long time.
Botswana has sworn in Duma Boko because the nation’s new president after his landslide election victory kicked out the Botswana Democratic Social gathering (BDP), which had been in energy for almost 60 years.
On Friday, Boko, 54, took the oath in entrance of a number of thousand folks within the nationwide stadium simply 9 days after his Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) crushed the BDP on the poll field.
“For almost three rating years, our democracy remained unbroken, unproven and untested. On the thirtieth of October this 12 months, collectively, we examined this democracy,” Boko stated in a speech.
“It’s with satisfaction, and even perhaps a tinge of aid, that I can proudly say now we have handed this check with flying colors,” he stated to cheers from the gang.
“Collectively, we usher in a brand new political daybreak.”
Last week, Boko’s left-leaning UDC received 36 seats in parliament in contrast with simply 4 for the conservative BDP, in a surprising reversal for the social gathering that had ruled diamond-rich Botswana since its independence from the UK in 1966.
Former President Mokgweetsi Masisi, who conceded defeat two days after the vote as his social gathering’s colossal defeat grew to become clear, was within the viewers alongside leaders of different regional nations together with Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Though the gang booed Masisi, the brand new president praised his predecessor’s “statesmanship”.
“Please give him some love,” Boko informed the stadium.
“Botswana has set the instance of a real democracy at work for the entire world to see and emulate. For that singular act, the previous president will stay inscribed prominently in our hearts.”
Younger voters made up a few third of the a couple of million folks registered to vote within the arid and sparsely populated nation.
Botswana, typically held up as certainly one of Africa’s biggest success tales, ranks among the many wealthiest and most secure democracies on the continent. However a world downturn in demand for mined diamonds, which account for greater than 80 p.c of Southern African exports, has taken a toll on the economic system.
Many citizens stated they wished change after almost six a long time of BDP rule, with the principle considerations being unemployment, the disparity between wealthy and poor and the economic system, which has been hit by plummeting diamond gross sales, the mainstay of Botswana’s revenues.
Masisi’s authorities was additionally accused of mismanagement, nepotism and corruption.
Boko has stated a precedence for his authorities will likely be to stabilise relations with companions within the diamond business, whereas diversifying the economic system away from its dependence on the worldwide diamond market.
