Botswana's political parties made their final pitches Thursday in a fiercely fought election that will test the strength of the ruling party against an invigorated opposition driven by a growing calls for change. Dubbed "Judgement Day" by local media, Friday's general election will see President Ian Khama attempt to secure a second term, following a lavish campaign anchored on the successes of his party's long history in office.
Khama's Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) has governed the landlocked diamond-rich southern African country since independence from Britain in 1966. Khama is battling to win over voters in urban areas, where opposition parties have made some inroads since the formation of a breakaway party, the Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) in 2010. The 61-year-old son of the country's first president Seretse Khama, Ian Khama is also a traditional chief of the Bangwato clan and can count on strong rural support.
Underscoring his countryside appeal, Khama will cast his vote in the central town of Serowe, which has given Botswana three presidents - two Khamas as well as Festus Mogae. Despite Botswana's relatively solid economic performance during the global financial crisis, the incumbent is running on a platform of change.
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