Former President Mokgweetsi Masisi has announced he will not seek the presidency in the next national elections.
Speaking at an official handover ceremony yesterday to his successor, President Duma Boko, Masisi confirmed his decision to step back from electoral politics.
“This is it,” he told reporters, responding to questions about whether he might participate in future national election processes.
Masisi added that while he remains uncertain about his future political involvement, his time as a presidential candidate has concluded. “Am I going to be politically active? I can’t tell, but am I running for President again? No. This is it,” he declared.
Masisi cited both personal and constitutional reasons for his decision, pointing to Botswana’s rules that limit a president to a total of ten years in office.
Reflecting on his party, the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), he described it as “a very dynamic party” with a deep bench of capable leaders.
“In our constitution, any president can do a maximum of two equivalent of ten years. I did six and a half; if I were to run again, I’d only serve three and a half more years,” he explained.
Masisi emphasized his commitment to the BDP’s structure and principles, noting that a short term would be an impractical and burdensome option for the party.
The former president also said it was time to respect the public’s decision after the recent electoral loss, marking an end to the BDP’s 58-year winning streak. Masisi expressed his acceptance of the outcome, acknowledging it as a fundamental part of democracy.
“I lost the election. I fully understand that is democracy. I lost, fact. We have been winning for the last 58 years, and this time around we lost, why would I not accept?” he stated.
Masisi, who led the country from 2018 until last Thursday, concluded by saying he is stepping down at a high point of democratic respect and does not wish to “burden the party or the public with a short, uncertain presidency.”
