Majority of Batswana see opposition offering viable alternative vision and plan

A majority of Batswana say opposition parties offer a viable alternative vision and plan to the long-time ruling Botswana Democratic Party, according to the 2017 Afrobarometer survey.

The 2019 elections are widely seen as an important test for the opposition, which has been gaining strength under its Umbrella for Democratic Change coalition.  

Key findings

• Six in 10 Batswana (62%) believe that opposition parties present a viable alternative vision and plan for the country.
• Men (65%) and urban residents (64%) are more likely to see opposition parties as a viable alternative than women (58%) and rural residents (57%) (Figure 2).
• Perceptions of the opposition as a viable alternative increase with respondents’ education level.