# 2004 General Election (30 October 2004)

URL: https://allhistories.com/botswana/timeline/2004-2004-general-election
Location: Botswana
Themes: main-event

Wikipedia records that on 30 October 2004 the Botswana Democratic Party won its ninth straight election, taking 44 of 57 elected National Assembly seats with 51.73 percent of the vote. The BNF won 12 seats, up six, with 26.06 percent, and the BCP won one with 16.62 percent. Six indirectly elected seats brought the total to 63, and a majority needed 29. Turnout was 76.20 percent. The Independent Electoral Commission met its goal of 500,000 registrations, covering about 61 percent of an estimated 900,000 voting-age people, though the BNF alleged errors. Parties used billboards for the first time, and opposition parties said their media access was limited. A Media Institute of Southern Africa study found the BDP received over 50 percent of coverage. International monitors from SADC, the African Union, the Commonwealth and the UN observed the poll for the first time. Vice President Ian Khama ran unopposed in Serowe North. The president was sworn in for a second term on 2 November 2004. The BDP's vote share was the lowest it had recorded to that point, and its slogan was There Is Still No Alternative. At this point in the timeline (2004), Festus Mogae (1 April 1998 – 1 April 2008) was President of Botswana, both head of state and head of government.

## Why it matters
The poll confirmed continuing ruling-party dominance while showing declining vote share and persistent concerns over media access and the voters' register.

Ruler at the Time: [Festus Mogae](https://allhistories.com/botswana/rulers/festus-mogae-1998)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — 2004 Botswana general election](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_Botswana_general_election)
- [Wikipedia — Botswana Democratic Party](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botswana_Democratic_Party)
- [Wikipedia — Festus Mogae](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Festus_Mogae)