The Charm Offensive Begins

In April, incumbent President Festus Mogae is expected to resign in favour of his deputy, Ian Khama. The next general election is not scheduled until late 2009, but such early transitions have become the norm of the overwhelmingly dominant Botswana Democratic Party. The practice will certainly help Khama: he is essentially a military man, and benefits from the lineage of being the son of the country's first president, but is regarded as lacking the common touch. In order to improve his image, Khama has begun to make himself more visible to the electorate by touring the

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