THE people of Botswana are voting for National Assembly members and local authority representatives in a general election this Wednesday.
61 National Assembly and 609 local council seats are up for grabs.
Botswana has an indirect election system where the party with the majority in parliament will have its leader appointed as president for the next five years.
President Mokgweetsi Masisi of the ruling Botswana Democratic Party, who is seeking a second and final term, is battling it out with three other candidates, Duma Boko of the opposition Coalition Umbrella for Democratic Change, Dumelang Saleshando of the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) and Mephato Reatile of the Botswana Patriotic Front.
Analysts say the country is currently facing difficult times after a global decrease in demand for diamonds which anchor its economy.
There is optimism among young people the election will bring about more employment opportunities, as unemployment had risen to more than 27 percent.
The polling stations opened at six in the openg and will close at seven in the evening.
