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The UDC’s unexpected win: A high voter turnout and ambitious vision for Botswana The recent election results came as a surprise, with no poll or prediction anticipating this outcome. While final counts are still pending, the UDC (Umbrella for Democratic Change) has secured over 50% of the seats in Parliament, positioning itself as the ruling party for the next term. Duma Boko will serve as the new President. In an early morning address, President Masisi graciously accepted the outcome and extended his best wishes to the incoming administration. The UDC, a center-left to left-wing alliance, comprises three key parties: Botswana National Front (BNF) – Advocates for social democracy with a Christian left perspective Alliance for Progressives (AP) – Supports social liberalism Botswana People’s Party (BPP) – Champions democratic socialism and Pan-Africanism This coalition structure brings both opportunities and challenges, and with it, expectations for a new approach to governance. The UDC’s economic plan, known as “Bokonomics” by the Business Weekly & Review, includes ambitious goals such as: Driving economic growth to a minimum of 10% per year Tripling agricultural yields per hectare Drafting a new constitution to guarantee affordable access to justice for all Providing comprehensive health insurance for every citizen Attracting at least P100 billion in domestic and foreign investment annually Reducing water and electricity tariffs by 30% Creating 450,000 to 500,000 jobs within five years across new and existing sectors With results still coming in, the UDC may even secure a two-thirds majority in Parliament, granting it significant power, including the ability to amend the constitution. This concentration of power, however, is met with both optimism and caution, as history has shown that in Africa, great political influence often comes with unique challenges. One remarkable aspect of this election was the high voter turnout, exceeding 80%, driven largely by the nation’s youth, who leveraged social media to promote change at the highest levels of government. President-elect Duma Boko, known as a thoughtful and principled human rights lawyer with a master’s degree from Harvard, faces the complex task of navigating coalition governance and using this mandate to steer Botswana toward prosperity. The country watches with both anticipation and optimism, hopeful that his administration will bring lasting, positive change.