Gaborone Central

Gaborone Central
Single-member constituency for the National Assembly
Boundary of Gaborone Central in Botswana
District	Gaborone
Population	40,082[1]
Major settlements	Gaborone
Area	20 km^2
Current constituency
Created	1994
Created from	Gaborone South Gaborone North
MP	TBD

Gaborone Central is a constituency in Gaborone City represented in the National Assembly of Botswana.

Constituency profile

The constituency was originally created in 1994, as part of an increase in the number of Gaborone constituencies from two to four. Since that is in general a stronghold for the opposition parties, first the BNF and later the BCP, becoming the seat of its leader, Dumelang Saleshando, from 2004 to 2014.[2] Since its creation the BDP has only won the constituency twice (1999 and 2019) in both with less than 50% of the votes.

The urban constituency encompasses the following locations:[3][4]

1. Station Mall
2. Main Mall
3. Botswelelo
4. Phologolo
5. Madibeng
6. Partial
7. Tshimotharo
8. Ginger
9. Maruapula
10. Broadhurst
11. Extension 39
12. Village
13. Badiri
14. Government Enclave

Members of Parliament

Key:   BNF   BDP   BCP   UDC

Election	Winner
1994 election		Michael Dingake
1999 election		Margaret Nasha
2004 election		Dumelang Saleshando
2009 election
2014 election		Phenyo Butale
2019 election		Tumisang Healy

Election results

2024 election

General election 2024: Gaborone Central

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	UDC	Phenyo Butale
	BDP	Bontsi Monare
	BMD	Magdeline Nkumba
	BCP	Mpho Pheko
	Independent	Jafta Radibe
Margin of victory
Total valid votes
Rejected ballots
Turnout
Registered electors			15,381
			Swing

2019 election

General election 2019: Gaborone Central[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	BDP	Tumisang Healy	4,886	48.16	+20.54
	UDC	Mpho Pheko	3,085	30.41	−41.67
	AP	Phenyo Butale	2,106	20.76	N/A
	Independent	Letsweletse Moses	53	0.52	N/A
	Independent	Jafta Radibe	16	0.16	N/A
Margin of victory			1,801	17.75	N/A
Total valid votes			10,146	99.56	−0.03
Rejected ballots			45	0.44	+0.03
Turnout			10,191	79.29	−3.31
Registered electors			12,853
	BDP gain from AP		Swing	+31.11

2014 election

General election 2014: Gaborone Central[6]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	UDC	Phenyo Butale	4,601	39.82	+28.51
	BCP	Dumelang Saleshando	3,727	32.26	−29.49
	BDP	Rupert Hambira	3,191	27.62	+0.68
	Independent	Sidney Baitsile	35	0.30	N/A
Margin of victory			874	7.56	N/A
Total valid votes			11,554	99.53	+1.52
Rejected ballots			55	0.47	−1.52
Turnout			11,609	82.60	+6.34
Registered electors			14,054
	UDC gain from BCP		Swing	+29.00

2009 election

General election 2009: Gaborone Central[7]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	BCP	Dumelang Saleshando	6,102	61.75	+23.87
	BDP	Kgomotso Mogami	2,662	26.94	−9.79
	BNF	Calvin Thutlwe	1,118	11.31	−12.96
Margin of victory			3,440	34.81	+33.66
Total valid votes			9,882	98.01	−1.65
Rejected ballots			201	1.99	+1.65
Turnout			10,083	76.26	+0.05
Registered electors			13,222
	BCP hold		Swing	+16.83

2004 election

General election 2004: Gaborone Central[8]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	BCP	Dumelang Saleshando	2,992	37.88	+21.58
	BDP	Margaret Nasha	2,901	36.73	−10.82
	BNF	Kathleen Letshabo	1,917	24.27	−6.80
	NDF	Violet Mphuting	89	1.13	N/A
Margin of victory			91	1.15	N/A
Total valid votes			7,899	99.66	+0.47
Rejected ballots			34	0.34	−0.47
Turnout			7,926	76.21	+1.80
Registered electors			10,400
	BCP gain from BDP		Swing	+16.20

1999 election

General election 1999: Gaborone Central[9]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	BDP	Margaret Nasha	2,868	47.55	+9.07
	BNF	Mareledi Giddie	1,874	31.07	+30.00
	BCP	Michael Dingake	983	16.30	−44.14
	BAM	Ephraim Setshwaelo	293	4.86	N/A
	MELS	Themba Joina	13	0.22	N/A
Margin of victory			994	16.48	N/A
Total valid votes			6,031	99.19	N/A
Rejected ballots			49	0.81	N/A
Turnout			6,080	74.41	−3.60
Registered electors			8,171
	BDP gain from BCP		Swing	+19.35

1994 election

General election 1994: Gaborone Central[10]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	BNF	Michael Dingake	3,490	60.44
	BDP	G.U.S. Matlhabaphiri	2,222	38.48
	UDF	Mareledi Giddie	62	1.07
Margin of victory			1,268	21.96
Turnout			5,774	78.01%
Registered electors			7,402
	BNF win (new seat)

References

1. 2022 DELIMITATION COMMISSION REPORT (PDF). 2022. p. 58.
2. Parliament of Botswana
3. 2022 DELIMITATION COMMISSION REPORT (PDF). 2022.
4. REPORT OF THE DELIMITATION COMMISSION, 2012 (PDF). 2012.
5. Independent Electoral Commission - Botswana National Assembly, 2019
6. Independent Electoral Commission - Botswana National Assembly, 2014
7. Independent Electoral Commission - Botswana National Assembly, 2009
8. Independent Electoral Commission - Botswana National Assembly, 2004
9. Independent Electoral Commission - Botswana National Assembly, 1999
10. Results by constituency