1965 Bechuanaland general election

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1965 Bechuanaland general election
← 1961
1 March 1965
1969 →
31 of the 35 seats in the National Assembly
16 seats needed for a majority
Registered188,950
Turnout74.55% (of registered voters)
69.46% (of eligible population)[n 1]
 Majority partyMinority party
 
LeaderSeretse KhamaPhilip Matante
PartyBDPBPP
Leader's seatSerowe NorthFrancistown/Tati East
Seats won283
Popular vote113,16719,964
Percentage80.38%14.18%
Results by constituency
Elected Prime Minister

Seretse Khama
BDP

General elections were held in the Bechuanaland Protectorate on 1 March 1965, the country's first election under universal suffrage.[1] The result was a landslide victory for the Bechuanaland Democratic Party (BDP),[2] with Seretse Khama becoming Prime Minister. Following the elections, the country became independent as Botswana on 30 September 1966, at which point Khama became President.[1] The BDP would go on to win the next twelve elections, maintaining its grip on power until its defeat at the 2024 general election 59 years later.

Campaign

[edit]

The elections were contested by three main parties;[3] the Bechuanaland Democratic Party led by Khama, the Bechuanaland People's Party (BDP) led by Philip Matante and the Bechuanaland Independence Party led by Motsamai Mpho. There was also a single independent candidate, G.E.N. Mannathoko, who ran in Tati West.[4] In the Lobatsi and Barolong constituency, there were two candidates from the Bechuanaland People's Party, one of which represented the Motsete branch.[4]

Despite acceptance that the BDP was likely to win easily, there was widespread interest in the elections. The BDP was seen as a moderate party with responsible leaders and realistic policies; in contrast the leaders of the other parties were perceived to be quarrelsome and overly ethnocentric.[1] Three BDP candidates were elected unopposed in Ghanzi, Kgalagadi and Kweneng West.[4]

Results

[edit]
PartyVotes%Seats
Bechuanaland Democratic Party113,16780.3828
Bechuanaland People's Party19,96414.183
Bechuanaland Independence Party6,4914.610
Bechuanaland People's Party (Motsete Branch)3770.270
Independents7890.560
Indirectly-elected members4
Total140,788100.0035
Registered voters/turnout188,950–
Source: Nohlen et al.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ National Study On Voter Apathy in Botswana (PDF). University of Botswana. IEC Botswana. 2022. p. 17.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  1. ^ a b c Botswana: The 1965 Pre-Independence General Election EISA
  2. ^ Dieter Nohlen, Michael Krennerich & Bernhard Thibaut (1999) Elections in Africa: A data handbook, p113 ISBN 0-19-829645-2
  3. ^ Gossett, CW, and Lotshwao, K., 2009, Report on the 1965 General Election and the 1966 Local Government Election, Botswana Notes & Records, Vol. 41, pp.47-63
  4. ^ a b c Botswana Election Results Election Passport
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1965_Bechuanaland_general_election&oldid=1288128894"

    1965 Bechuanaland general election
    1 March 1965
    31 of the 35 seats in the National Assembly
    16 seats needed for a majority
    Registered188,950
    Turnout74.55% (of registered voters)
    69.46% (of eligible population)[n 1]
     Majority partyMinority party
     
    LeaderSeretse KhamaPhilip Matante
    PartyBDPBPP
    Leader's seatSerowe NorthFrancistown/Tati East
    Seats won283
    Popular vote113,16719,964
    Percentage80.38%14.18%
    Results by constituency
    Elected Prime Minister

    Seretse Khama
    BDP

    General elections were held in the Bechuanaland Protectorate on 1 March 1965, the country's first election under universal suffrage.[1] The result was a landslide victory for the Bechuanaland Democratic Party (BDP),[2] with Seretse Khama becoming Prime Minister. Following the elections, the country became independent as Botswana on 30 September 1966, at which point Khama became President.[1] The BDP would go on to win the next twelve elections, maintaining its grip on power until its defeat at the 2024 general election 59 years later.

    Campaign

    The elections were contested by three main parties;[3] the Bechuanaland Democratic Party led by Khama, the Bechuanaland People's Party (BDP) led by Philip Matante and the Bechuanaland Independence Party led by Motsamai Mpho. There was also a single independent candidate, G.E.N. Mannathoko, who ran in Tati West.[4] In the Lobatsi and Barolong constituency, there were two candidates from the Bechuanaland People's Party, one of which represented the Motsete branch.[4]

    Despite acceptance that the BDP was likely to win easily, there was widespread interest in the elections. The BDP was seen as a moderate party with responsible leaders and realistic policies; in contrast the leaders of the other parties were perceived to be quarrelsome and overly ethnocentric.[1] Three BDP candidates were elected unopposed in Ghanzi, Kgalagadi and Kweneng West.[4]

    Results

    PartyVotes%Seats
    Bechuanaland Democratic Party113,16780.3828
    Bechuanaland People's Party19,96414.183
    Bechuanaland Independence Party6,4914.610
    Bechuanaland People's Party (Motsete Branch)3770.270
    Independents7890.560
    Indirectly-elected members4
    Total140,788100.0035
    Registered voters/turnout188,950–
    Source: Nohlen et al.

    References

    1. ^ National Study On Voter Apathy in Botswana (PDF). University of Botswana. IEC Botswana. 2022. p. 17.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
    1. ^ a b c Botswana: The 1965 Pre-Independence General Election EISA
    2. ^ Dieter Nohlen, Michael Krennerich & Bernhard Thibaut (1999) Elections in Africa: A data handbook, p113 ISBN 0-19-829645-2
    3. ^ Gossett, CW, and Lotshwao, K., 2009, Report on the 1965 General Election and the 1966 Local Government Election, Botswana Notes & Records, Vol. 41, pp.47-63
    4. ^ a b c Botswana Election Results Election Passport
    Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1965_Bechuanaland_general_election&oldid=1288128894"