1965 Bechuanaland general election

1965 Bechuanaland general election
31 of the 35 seats in the National Assembly; 16 seats needed for a majority
Registered	188,950
	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,^[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]

Campaign[]

The elections were contested by three main parties;^[3] the Bechuanaland Democratic Party led by Khama, the Bechuanaland People's Party led by 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 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[]


Party		Votes	%	Seats
	Bechuanaland Democratic Party	113,167	80.38	28
	Bechuanaland People's Party	19,964	14.18	3
	Bechuanaland Independence Party	6,491	4.61	0
	Bechuanaland People's Party (Motsete Branch)	377	0.27	0
	Independents	789	0.56	0
Indirectly-elected members				4
Total		140,788	100.00	35

Registered voters/turnout		175,042	–
Source: Nohlen et al.

References[]

^ ^a ^b ^c Botswana: The 1965 Pre-Independence General Election EISA
^ Nohlen, D, Krennerich, M & Thibaut, B (1999) Elections in Africa: A data handbook, p113 ISBN 0-19-829645-2
^ 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
^ ^a ^b ^c Botswana Election Results Election Passport

[EISA-1] Botswana: The 1965 Pre-Independence General Election EISA

[2] Nohlen, D, Krennerich, M & Thibaut, B (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

[EP-4] Botswana Election Results Election Passport

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