Botswana

Although there are visible sources of contention within the polity, we do not envisage any derailing of the broadly smooth operation of the political machinery. The ruling Botswana Democratic Party is almost certain to win the next general elections in 2009. This would bode well for policy continuity, but inevitably raises questions as to the seemingly unshakable dominance of the BDP. The opposition are trying to bridge their differences and glue together a united front, but as things stand it will likely be an uphill struggle, with infighting and defections still the order of the day.

To read the full article, please choose one of the following options: