07 Jul 2025

Nigh on a decade after being elected as the Leader of Opposition in their respective countries’ 2014 general elections, Botswana’s Advocate Duma Boko and Malawi’s Dr Lazarus Chakwera on Saturday night majestically entered the banquet hall of the Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe as heads of state, a reflection of democratic popular will of their fellow citizens through electoral contest.

That, President Boko, said at the official reception hosted by President Chakwera and First Lady Monica Chakwera, was a sign that Africa’s democratic environment could flourish to a point of becoming exemplary to the world. President Boko narrated how the October 2024 Botswana general election was lost by a Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) that had entered the polls buoyant after dominating the country’s previous 12 elections and governing for 58 years.

But, upon a loss of power, his predecessor, Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi became magnanimous in defeat, at all times giving the assurance that there would be a smooth transfer of power, which then occurred seamlessly. While the country had maintained democratic electoral process since independence, the test of democratic consolidation came upon a loss of power by those who wielded it for long and Botswana passed the litmus test.

“We have become an exemplar, not only to Africa, but to the rest of the world, because even in some of the world’s most advanced democratic societies, you often find electoral challenges and strife in power transfer,” he said.

He told the reception that he recently saw Dr Masisi and former first lady, Ms Neo Masisi on television, looking good and beaming, a sign that they were not being persecuted upon presidential retirement. That is the Africa we ought to build. A society where leaders from different political persuasion respect each other, peacefully coexist and and submit to the will of the people, he said.  

He also reflected on how Malawi had experienced public demonstrations and election petitions after Dr Chakwera lost the 2019 general elections, when many felt the outcome had been manufactured to subvert the will of the people. Instead of suppressing the popular unrest, the Malawian army protected the people and the judiciary ruled in favour of an electoral re-run, held in 2020, which ushered Dr Chakwera and the Malawi Congress Party into office, President Boko recalled.

He lauded Malawi for navigating such a delicate situation without lapsing into prolonged civil strife but rather,  emerging with the democratic voice of the majority and the judicial independence of the courts respected. Africa now requires stable democratic governance and strong institutional framework that would enable nations to focus on economic development, the President said.

For his part, Dr Chakwera commended President Boko for accepting the invitation for the state visit and being guest of honour at Malawi’s 61^st anniversary of independence.

“Your record breaking electoral victory and forward looking governance will add impetus to our relations. This is an opportunity to renew our partnership to meet the challenges of the 21^st century. 

Although Botswana and Malawi have had diplomatic relations since 1966, the best days of our collaboration are yet to come, starting with areas such as tourism,  education, mining and cultural exchange,” said Dr Chakwera. ENDS