Moshupa-Manyana is a constituency in Botswana represented in the National Assembly of Botswana by Karabo Gare, a Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) MP and chairman of the BDP since 2018.
Constituency profile
Moshupa-Manyana is a largely rural constituency situated in Botswana's south-eastern hardveld. The constituency's terrain is dotted with low granite, undulating koppies and seasonal river valleys.[1][2] Most households practise mixed farming (goats, poultry and rain-fed crops) or commute to Kanye, the Jwaneng diamond mine, or Gaborone for work.
The seat, known as Moshupa until 2014, has existed in one form or another since the country's inaugural general election in 1965, making it one of Botswana's longest-standing constituencies.
Moshupa-Manyana is a stronghold of the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP).
It is one of only two existing constituencies in Botswana that have never returned a Member of Parliament from more than one party, the other being neighbouring Thamaga-Kumakwane. In every election since 1965, the BDP has always polled above 50% of the popular vote, the only constituency in the country where the BDP has done so.
Political life in the constituency has been closely associated with the Masisi family, one of Botswana's most prominent political families.[3][4] Diplomat, cabinet minister and career politician Edison Masisi served as MP for three decades (1965–1999) and his son, future president Mokgweetsi Masisi, held the seat from 2009 until he assumed the presidency in 2018.
The elevation of Mokgweetsi Masisi to the presidency produced a pronounced favourite son effect: at the 2019 election the BDP vote share surged to 85 percent (up from 54 percent in 2014) which made Moshupa-Manyana the safest seat in the country, with the BDP winning the seat by a majority of 70 percentage points. This marked the first time in Botswana's electoral history that the safest constituency was not one of the constituencies anchored around the Ngwato capital of Serowe.
The 2019 landslide was also brought about due to a wider realignment triggered by President Masisi's public falling-out with former president and Ngwato Kgosi (paramount chief) Ian Khama, which led to a dramatic swing against the BDP in Khama's northern heartland but equally increased support for the party across much of the south.[5][6][7]
Despite a strong nationwide swing against the BDP in 2024—when the party lost 34 of the 38 constituencies it had won in 2019—Moshupa-Manyana remained in BDP hands as its 2019 majority proved too insurmountable to overcome. The seat, along with Thamaga-Kumakwane, was one of only two constituencies where the BDP won with an outright majority of the vote at that election.
The largely rural constituency encompasses the following localities:[8]
- Moshupa
- Manyana
- Lotlhakane West
- Ralekgetho
- Pitseng
- Seherelela
- Sesung
- Bikwe
- Mogonye
- Lekgolobotlo
- Ranaka
- Ntlhantlhe
- Kgomokasitwa
- Magotlhwane
Members of Parliament
Key:
BDP
Election results
2024 election
2019 election
2018 by-election
Note: UDC vote share is compared to the total vote share of the UDC and BCP in 2014.
2014 election
Note: UDC vote share is compared to the vote share of the BNF in 2009.
2009 election
2004 election
1999 election
1994 election
1989 election
1984 election
1979 election
1974 election
1969 election
1965 election
References
- ^ "Location | Botswana Tourism Organisation". www.botswanatourism.co.bw. Retrieved 2025-05-15.
- ^ Ndala Marumo, Mompoloki; Lebitsa, Gabatsoswe; Malumbela, Goitseone (15 September 2024). "Geotechnical Characterization of the Manyana Black Cotton Soils in Botswana". Journal of Civil Engineering and Urbanism. 14 (3S): 318–324. doi:10.54203/jceu.2024.35.
- ^ "Who is Botswana's new President Mokgweetsi Masisi?". The Mail & Guardian. 2018-04-03. Retrieved 2025-05-15.
- ^ "'There has always been a Masisi in parliament since 1965' | Sunday Standard". 2019-12-03. Retrieved 2025-05-15.
- ^ Brown, Chris (2020-08-15). "Botswana Votes 2019: Two-Party Competition and the Khama Factor". Journal of Southern African Studies. 46 (4): 703–722. Bibcode:2020JSAfS..46..703B. doi:10.1080/03057070.2020.1778901. ISSN 0305-7070.
- ^ Chutel, Lynsey (2019-10-25). "Botswana Election Won by President, Despite Rift with Predecessor". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-05-15.
- ^ Friesen, Paul (2019-11-06). "Analysis | Botswana's ruling party won again. This makes 12 consecutive victories". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2025-05-15.
- ^ 2022 DELIMITATION COMMISSION REPORT (PDF). 2022.
- ^ "Gare retains Moshupa Manyana". Retrieved 1 November 2024.
- ^ Report to the Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration on the 2019 General Elections (PDF). Independent Electoral Commission (IEC). 2020.
- ^ "Gare wins MoshupaManyana by-election". DailyNews. 17 June 2018.
- ^ Independent Electoral Commission - Botswana National Assembly, 2014
- ^ Report To The Minister Of Presidential Affairs And Public Administration On The 2009 General Elections (PDF). Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).
- ^ BOTSWANA GENERAL ELECTIONS 30th OCTOBER 2004 POLLING RESULTS (PDF). Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).
- ^ Independent Electoral Commission - Botswana National Assembly, 1999
- ^ a b Results by constituency
- ^ Democracy in the face of a weak Opposition in Botswana, Brian T. Mokopakgosi & Mpho G. Molomo (2000)
- ^ Report to the Minister of State on the general elections, 1974 (PDF). Supervisor of Elections. 1974.
- ^ "Report on the General Elections 1969" (PDF). 1969.
- ^ Gossett, Charles W.; Kebapetse, Lotshwao (21 April 2013). "Report on the 1965 General Election and the 1966 Local Government Election". Botswana Notes & Records. 41. Rochester, NY: Social Science Research Network (published 2009): 53. SSRN 2254423. Retrieved 2024-01-27.