| Country: | Botswana |
| Type: | Legislative |
| Previous Election: | 1974 Botswana general election |
| Previous Year: | 1974 |
| Outgoing Members: | 3rd Parliament of Botswana |
| Election Date: | 20 October 1979 |
| Next Election: | 1984 Botswana general election |
| Next Year: | 1984 |
| Elected Members: | 4th Parliament of Botswana |
| Seats For Election: | 32 of the 36 seats in the National Assembly |
| Majority Seats: | 17 |
| Registered: | 230,231 |
| Image1: | Seretse_Khama_during_Independence_Talks.png |
| Leader1: | Seretse Khama |
| Party1: | Botswana Democratic Party |
| Last Election1: | 76.62%, 27 seats |
| Leaders Seat1: | None |
| Seats1: | 29 |
| Seat Change1: | 2 |
| Popular Vote1: | 101,098 |
| Percentage1: | 75.17% |
| Swing1: | 1.45pp |
| Leader2: | Kenneth Koma |
| Party2: | Botswana National Front |
| Leaders Seat2: | Gaborone (defeated) |
| Last Election2: | 11.49%, 2 seats |
| Seats2: | 2 |
| Popular Vote2: | 17,480 |
| Percentage2: | 13.00% |
| Swing2: | 1.51pp |
| Image3: | Philip_Matante_during_Independence_Talks.png |
| Leader3: | Philip Matante |
| Party3: | BPP |
| Leaders Seat3: | Francistown (defeated) |
| Last Election3: | 6.56%, 2 seats |
| Seats3: | 1 |
| Seat Change3: | 1 |
| Popular Vote3: | 9,983 |
| Percentage3: | 7.42% |
| Swing3: | 0.86pp |
| Map Size: | 380px |
| President | |
| Before Election: | Seretse Khama |
| Before Party: | Botswana Democratic Party |
| After Election: | Seretse Khama |
| After Party: | Botswana Democratic Party |
General elections were held in Botswana on 20 October 1979. The result was a fourth successive landslide victory for the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), which won 29 of the 32 elected seats,[1] including two in which they were unopposed.[2]
As of the 2019 general elections, this is the last election where the BDP received more than 70% of the popular vote.
A total of 69 candidates contested the election. The BDP was the only party to run a full slate of 32 candidates, with the Botswana National Front putting forward 16 candidates, the Botswana People's Party 14 and the Botswana Independence Party five. There were also two independents.[2] The BDP campaigned on opposition to apartheid in South Africa and a call for economic sanctions against Zimbabwe-Rhodesia.[3]
Prior to the elections, the voter roll was completely revamped. The revision was accompanied by a vigorous radio and press campaign by the government to encourage registration. Although the number of registered voters increased by only 6,635 compared to the 1974 elections, this was deemed to be due to the 1974 voter roll having numerous duplications.