Reuters —Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Masisi conceded defeat on Friday after preliminary results showed his party had lost its parliamentary majority by a landslide in this week’s election, ending nearly six decades in power. Analysts said that mounting socio-economic grievances, particularly among young people, were the downfall of the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), which has governed the small southern African state since independence from Britain in 1966. “Although I wanted to stay on as your president, I respect the will of the people and I congratulate the president-elect. Neighboring Namibia will hold elections later this month in which the ruling SWAPO party, which has governed since 1990, is also expected to face a stiff challenge. “The outcome of Botswana’s elections should serve as a warning to long-time ruling parties across southern Africa and beyond that without economic progress and employment opportunities, political dominance will falter,” said Zaynab Hoosen, an Africa analyst at Pangea-Risk.

---

Persons: Reuters —, Mokgweetsi Masisi, Duma Boko, Boko, ” Masisi, ”, Mpho Mogorosi, “, Zaynab Hoosen Organizations: Reuters, Umbrella, Democratic, Duma, Analysts, Botswana Democratic Party, BDP, National Congress, SWAPO Locations: Botswana, Britain, Gaborone, “, ”, Africa, South, Namibia