2009 Botswana local elections explained

Local elections in Botswana were held on 16 October 2009 for the district councils of the Districts of Botswana. Local government is administered by nine district and five town councils. District commissioners have executive authority.^[1]

Overall Results

Party	Seats	+/-
Botswana Democratic Party	333	3
Botswana National Front	71	35
Botswana Congress Party	69	37
Botswana Alliance Movement	6	3
Botswana People's Party	3	1
Independents	8	5
Total	490	0
Registered Voters	724,205
Total Voters (Voter Turnout)	553,384 (76.4%)
Invalid Votes	12,765
Total Valid Votes	540,619
Source: ^[2]

Results By District

Central District

Party	Seats	+/-
Botswana Democratic Party	108	20
Botswana Congress Party	16	10
Botswana National Front	10	6
Botswana Alliance Movement	0	1
Independents	6	5
Total	140	0
Registered Voters	209,911
Total Voters (Voter Turnout)	154,584 (73.6%)
Invalid Votes	4,523
Total Valid Votes	150,061
Source:

Francistown City

Party	Seats	+/-
Botswana Democratic Party	11	5
Botswana Congress Party	7	5
Botswana People's Party	0	1
Independents	1	1
Total	19	0
Registered Voters	32,913
Total Voters (Voter Turnout)	23,685 (72.0%)
Invalid Votes	331
Total Valid Votes	23,384
Source:

Gaborone City

Party	Seats	+/-
Botswana Democratic Party	22	11
Botswana Congress Party	7	4
Botswana National Front	1	15
Total	30	0
Registered Voters	63,201
Total Voters (Voter Turnout)	48,337 (76.5%)
Invalid Votes	360
Total Valid Votes	47,977
Source:

Ghanzi District

Party	Seats	+/-
Botswana Democratic Party	15	2
Botswana National Front	4	3
Botswana Congress Party	1	1
Total	20	0
Registered Voters	17,284
Total Voters (Voter Turnout)	13,837 (80.1%)
Invalid Votes	433
Total Valid Votes	13,404
Source:

Jwaneng

Party	Seats	+/-
Botswana National Front	4	3
Botswana Democratic Party	3	3
Total	7	0
Registered Voters	5,849
Total Voters (Voter Turnout)	4,568 (78.1%)
Invalid Votes	51
Total Valid Votes	4,517
Source:

Kgalagadi District

Party	Seats	+/-
Botswana Democratic Party	13	3
Botswana National Front	9	3
Total	22	0
Registered Voters	22,509
Total Voters (Voter Turnout)	18,680 (83.0%)
Invalid Votes	376
Total Valid Votes	18,304
Source:

Kgatleng District

Party	Seats	+/-
Botswana Democratic Party	8	2
Botswana National Front	8	0
Botswana Congress Party	6	1
Independents	1	1
Total	20	0
Registered Voters	35,846
Total Voters (Voter Turnout)	29,766 (83.0%)
Invalid Votes	608
Total Valid Votes	29,158
Source:

There was a tie in one constituency and a by-election was on 5 December 2009. The Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) candidate won, increasing their total seats from 7 to 8.

Kweneng District

Party	Seats	+/-
Botswana Democratic Party	48	1
Botswana National Front	9	8
Botswana Congress Party	9	7
Total	66	0
Registered Voters	99,563
Total Voters (Voter Turnout)	76,124 (76.5%)
Invalid Votes	1,990
Total Valid Votes	74,134
Source:

Lobatse

Party	Seats	+/-
Botswana Democratic Party	8	4
Botswana National Front	4	4
Total	12	0
Registered Voters	13,404
Total Voters (Voter Turnout)	10,029 (74.8%)
Invalid Votes	142
Total Valid Votes	9,887
Source:

North-East District

Party	Seats	+/-
Botswana Democratic Party	16	0
Botswana People's Party	3	0
Total	19	0
Registered Voters	21,470
Total Voters (Voter Turnout)	16,267 (75.8%)
Invalid Votes	326
Total Valid Votes	15,941
Source:

North-West District

Party	Seats	+/-
Botswana Democratic Party	29	2
Botswana Congress Party	8	3
Botswana Alliance Movement	6	2
Botswana National Front	3	2
Independents	0	1
Total	46	0
Registered Voters	68,381
Total Voters (Voter Turnout)	51,916 (75.9%)
Invalid Votes	1,285
Total Valid Votes	50,631
Source:

Selibe Phikwe

Party	Seats	+/-
Botswana Democratic Party	7	2
Botswana Congress Party	7	2
Total	14	0
Registered Voters	20,560
Total Voters (Voter Turnout)	16,220 (78.9%)
Invalid Votes	153
Total Valid Votes	16,067
Source:

South-East District

Party	Seats	+/-
Botswana Democratic Party	11	1
Botswana Congress Party	7	4
Botswana National Front	2	3
Total	20	0
Registered Voters	27,005
Total Voters (Voter Turnout)	21,985 (81.4%)
Invalid Votes	302
Total Valid Votes	21,683
Source:

Southern District

Party	Seats	+/-
Botswana Democratic Party	34	8
Botswana National Front	17	7
Botswana Congress Party	1	0
Independents	0	1
Total	52	0
Registered Voters	86,309
Total Voters (Voter Turnout)	67,386 (78.1%)
Invalid Votes	1,885
Total Valid Votes	65,501
Source:

Notes and References

1. Web site: Botswana (12/09) . State.gov archives.
2. Web site: 2009 Local Elections in Botswana . 2024-05-04 . africanelections.tripod.com.