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Botswana ruling party rejected after 58 years in power


Voters in Botswana have rejected the country’s long-serving governing party in a result that marks a political earthquake in the diamond-rich southern African nation.


The Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) - in power since independence in 1966 - has won only four parliamentary seats as of Friday afternoon. It will be replaced by the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC).


In a phone call to UDC leader Duma Boko, President Mokgweetsi Masisi conceded and congratulated his opponent.


Despite overseeing a dramatic change in Botswana, recent poor economic growth and high unemployment dented the BDP’s popularity.

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