'We are united': Botswana new President Duma Boko takes oath

By James Kunda

LUSAKA, Zambia (AA) - Duma Gideon Boko was sworn in as Botswana's sixth president on Friday after a historic election victory on Oct. 30, which saw an end to the ruling party's 58-year hold on power.

"I will maintain the constitution of Botswana and uphold the laws and direct my abilities to the service and welfare of the people of Botswana without fear or favor, affection or ill will; so help me God," said Boko, a human rights lawyer and leader of Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC).

"Our differences, our similarities whatever they may be, we are united. I pledge to serve all Batswana with unwavering fairness and integrity, honoring the promise of our beautiful republic," he added.

The Southern African nation's Chief Justice Terence Rannowane administered the oath of office to Boko at a packed Gaborone national stadium in the capital.

Boko beat the incumbent, Mokgweetsi Eric Masisi, who conceded defeat on Nov. 1. Masisi's Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) had been in power since independence from Britain in 1966.

The 54-year-old also ran for president in 2014 and 2019, and founded the UDC in 2012 to unite opposition groups against the BDP.

After his win last week, he said on X “Botswana First” with a picture of a UDC campaign poster with the words “Change is Here.”

His inauguration was witnessed by several regional heads of state and government including Zambia's Hakainde Hichilema, Zimbabwe's Emmerson Mnangagwa and Namibia's Nangolo Mbumba, as well as Masisi and his predecessor Ian Khama Seretse Khama, among other local and foreign delegates.​​​​​​​