Botswana's presidential election, ruling party's crushing defeat...Change of government after 58 years

The ruling party's unexpected defeat in the South African Botswana general election led to the first regime change in 58 years.

According to the results of the general election vote released by the Election Commission on the 1st local time, the ruling Botswana Democratic Party had only four seats out of 56 of the 61 seats chosen by voters.

As a result, the Botswana Democratic Party, which has been in power for 58 years since independence from Britain in 1966, produced five presidents, lost power for the first time.

The NEC announced that the main opposition Umbrella Party for Democratic Change, which now has a majority of 33 seats, won.

President Mokechi Masisi, who was seeking a second term, held a news conference and said he had "lost this election heavily and accepted the election results," adding that he would "courteously step down and participate in the smooth transition process."

Botswana is a presidential system with a cabinet responsibility system in which the majority leader who wins the general election is elected president of a five-year term.

As a result, the main party, which occupies at least 31 out of 61 seats, elects the president and forms a new government.