[6] The Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) achieved significant growth in the Central District, increasing its number of seats.

Incumbent president Mokgweetsi Masisi conceded defeat on the morning of 1 November 2024 and ensured a peaceful transfer of power.

[7] Later that day, President Boko was sworn-in by Chief Justice Terence Rannowane, allowing him to form the first government since independence with no BDP participation.

This was the most significant power transfer in a single electoral year in Africa since the rebirth of constitutional rule on the continent in the early 1990s.

Nonetheless, the BDP made substantial gains in other regions, securing all seats in both Gaborone and districts in the southern parts of the country, offsetting the UDC's advances.

[11] While international observers deemed the elections "free and fair,"[13] Duma Boko contested the BDP's victory, alleging significant electoral irregularities.

[12][14] Despite the UDC's claims of multiple voting and bribery of election officials, their petition to invalidate the results was dismissed by the High Court in December 2019.

[15] Following the 2019 elections, there were three opposing parties in the National Assembly—the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), the Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) and the Alliance for Progressives (AP).

[17] Saleshando ceased to be the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, after a group of UDC MPs joined by five BCP dissidents, voted him out of the position in July 2022.

People who are declared insane, hold dual citizenship, under a death sentence, convicted of an electoral offence or imprisoned for at least six months are not allowed to vote.

[29] Candidates have to be citizens of Botswana, at least 21 years old, without an undischarged bankruptcy and be able to speak and read English sufficiently well to take part in parliamentary proceedings.

During the general election campaign, all candidates for the National Assembly declare whom they endorse for President when they lodge their nomination papers.

It was widely accepted by political commentators, news media and the Independent Electoral Commission that the next election would be held in October 2024.

Indeed, in his announcement the president stated that Wednesday, 30 October 2024, will be the election date and that the day and the next will be public holidays in an effort to boost turnout.

[38] The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) oversaw the general voter registration, which began on 5 January 2024 and ended on 3 February.

The second and final supplementary registration took place from 20 to 31 May and was conducted across approximately 2,808 nationwide polling stations, unlike the first, which was held at harder-to-reach district commissioners' offices and Kgotlas.

[42][43] On 7 November, Justice Gaolapelwe Ketlogetswe of the Francistown High Court issued a rule nisi requiring the IEC and other parties to justify why the UDC's Madibelatlhopho should be restrained from monitoring the national registration process.

[44] The apex court ruled in favour of the IEC, denying the UDC's request to have the Madibelatlhopho access to registration booklets and other confidential voter information.

This decision overturned the previous Francistown High Court ruling that had allowed the UDC to monitor the voter registration process.

At the conclusion of this procedure, three political party leaders were duly declared as validly nominated candidates for the office of President, as shown below.

Significant swings toward the Umbrella for Democratic Change in the southern and central regions, alongside losses to the Botswana Congress Party in the north, saw the BDP reduced to a rump of four seats, making it the smallest of four factions in the National Assembly.

Conversely, the BCP, despite finishing over 79,000 votes behind the BDP, became the official opposition due to its heavy concentration of support in the north.

This election yielded an index score of 23.05, indicating a highly disproportionate outcome that strongly favoured the UDC and BCP while being significantly disadvantageous for the BDP.

[57] BDP leader and President Mokgweetsi Masisi conceded defeat to the UDC and Duma Boko on 1 November 2024.