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Traditional leadership and diamond money keep a stable democracy going

Botswana's democratic reputation rests on its constitution, whereby the president is chosen by the governing Botswana Democratic Party and duly voted into office by the elected parliament. Thanks to a recent constitutional amendment, the vice-president, also picked by the BDP, automatically succeeds if anything happens to the top man, so is strongly placed to become president himself at the end of the incumbent's two five-year terms. The present team, President Festus Gontebanye Mogae and the Vice-President, Lieutenant General Seretse Ian Khama, will use the BDP congress in Gantsi on 20-21 July to entrench their position against their party critics....

(This article contains approximately 947 words)

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Keywords:

Festus Gontebanye Mogae, Seretse Ian Khama, Ponatshego Kedikilwe, Daniel Kwelagobe, Quett Ketumile Masire, Mompati Merafhe, Jacob Nkate, Diamond axis, United States, George W. Bush, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Uganda, Nathan Shamuyarira, Zimbabwe, Phelekezela Mphoko, Robert Mugabe, Seretse Khama, Ruth, Stalking horse, Otswoletse Moupo, Kenneth Koma, Michael Dingake