The Commonwealth Expert Team (CET) which observed October 30, 2024, elections in Botswana on Sunday, November 3, 2024, threw the Kanu party national chairman Gideon Moi a belated birthday party.
Moi was appointed to head the team of five observers drawn from other countries in the Commonwealth to reach out to crucial electoral stakeholders, including the electoral management body, political parties, civil society organizations, media representatives, the diplomatic community, and other international and domestic observers.
Belated birthday
Moi whose birthday fell on October 22, 2024, celebrated the event with his colleagues at the fancy Bukhara restaurant in Gaborone- Botswana’s capital following the completion of the election in the country.
“I am grateful to the Commonwealth Secretariat team for the surprise celebration in honour of my belated birthday during our farewell dinner,” Moi said.
Adding: “It has been a pleasure leading the Commonwealth Expert Team to the Botswana 2024 General Elections, supported by a diligent, professional and solid secretariat team. My gratitude also goes to the people of Botswana for their warmth and hospitality throughout our team’s stay.”
While in Botswana, part of Moi’s duties was to conduct pre-election activities including election preparedness, checking conformity to election-day procedures, opening of the ballots and casting of votes, closing of the polling stations and the counting of votes.
Moi’s team is expected to write a report on their observation of the elections, point out problematic areas and recommend areas requiring improvement.
Botswana’s former President Mokgweetsi Masisi conceded defeat on Friday, November 1, 2024, after the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) lost power for the first time since the country’s independence in 1966.
In a statement on Monday, November 4, 2024, the new Botswana President Duma Boko thanked his predecessor for agreeing to peacefully hand over power, noting that Botswana was a stable country.
“Thank you all for the congratulatory messages following our historic win. I accept this victory with humility and appreciate my predecessor’s peaceful concession, reflecting our stability as a nation. I look forward to a progressive journey of unity and collaboration,” Boko said.
Political analysts indicate that BDP lost favour with the country’s youthful population following a series of economic challenges brought about by diamond market changes on the global stage.
Diamond accounts for a significant percentage of Botswana’s economy.
