YOUR VOTE COUNTS: Incumbent president of Botswana, Mokgweetsi Masisi, is seen casting his vote at Mosielele Primary School polling station Moshupa. PHOTO: BOTSWANA GOVERNMENT

VOTE FOR CHANGE: Voters are seen lining up to cast their votes at Maun Main Kgotla.PHOTO: BOTSWANA GOVERNMENT

PIVOTAL: The people of Botswana went to the polls yesterday for that country’s general election, which will determine the composition of the 13th Parliament of Botswana as well as local councils across the country. Botswana’s Independent Electoral Commission said there are 1 037 684 registered voters. Up for election are 61 seats of the National Assembly as well as 609 local council seats, all elected through the first-past-the-post voting system. There are four presidential candidates from four main political parties - the Botswana Congress Party (BCP), the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), the Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) and the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC). Photo: BOTSWANA GOVERNMENT

JUST MAKING SURE: Swanu member Issy Tjihoreko was at the Hosea Kukato International Airport yesterday when the ballots were delivered. Photo: Elizabeth Kheibes

Photo: Elizabeth Kheibes

EAGLE EYE: Swapo secretary-general Sophia Shaningwa keeping watch over the delivery of the ballots for next month's elections. Photo: Elizabeth Kheibes

TRANSPARENCY: During the delivery of the ballot papers for the 2024 National Assembly and presidential elections - which were printed and packed in Johannesburg - several members of political parties complained that the observation of the process was not as was described by the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN), claiming that they were ordered to wait outside for hours on end and were not allowed inside to witness the full printing process. Swapo secretary-general Sophia Shaningwa requested that ECN allow all political parties to be present when the ballot packages are opened to inspect every booklet. A total of 3.2 million ballot papers were printed. Photo: ELIZABETH KHEIBES