# Okavango (Botswana constituency)

Okavango was a constituency in the North-West District. Following the completion of the 2022 Delimitation of Parliamentary constituencies, the existing seat was abolished and replaced by two new constituencies, Okavango East and Okavango West, to be first contested in the upcoming 2024 general election.

## Constituency profile

The Okavango constituency was located in the north of North-West District and existed with the majority of its boundaries intact from the first inaugural elections in 1965 until 2024, making it one of the longest-running constituencies in Botswana's electoral history.
Throughout its existence, Okavango has generally remained an opposition stronghold and the region that has voted the least for the BDP since Botswana's independence (the party only won the constituency in 1965, 1979 and 2004). Between 1969 and 1979 it was represented by the BIP, between 1984 and 1999 by the BNF and from 1999 to 2024 it voted mostly for BCP candidates. In 2022, the delimitation commission recommended the division of Okavango into two constituencies, abolishing the constituency.
The constituency, predominantly rural, encompassed the following villages:
* Ikoga
* Sepopa
* Nxamasere
* Samochema
* Shakawe
* Gani
* Mohembo East
* Tsodilo
* Chukumuchu
* Nxauxau
* Tobera
* Mohembo West
* Kauxwi
* Xakao
* Sekondomboro
* Nkarange
* Mogotlho
* Seronga
* Gonutsuga
* Eretsha
* Beetsha
* Gudigwa

## Members of Parliament

Key:  BDP BIP BNF BCP UDC
| Election | Winner |
| 1965 election | Tsheko Tsheko |
| 1969 election | Motsamai Mpho |
| 1974 election | Motsamai Mpho |
| 1979 election | Bailang Salepito |
| 1984 election | Joseph Kavindama |
| 1989 election | Joseph Kavindama |
| 1994 election | Joseph Kavindama |
| 1999 election | Joseph Kavindama |
| 2004 election | Vister Moruti |
| 2009 election | Bagalatia Arone |
| 2014 election | Bagalatia Arone |
| 2019 election | Kenny Kapinga |

## Election results
### 2019 election

General election 2019: Okavango :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | UDC | Kenny Kapinga | 7,577 | 51.11 | –5.28 |
| | BDP | Mbahahauka Kambimba | 6,816 | 45.98 | +2.38 |
| | AP | Kabelo Mahupe | 432 | 2.91 | N/A |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 761 | 5.13 | −5.95 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 14,825 | 99.10 | +0.47 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 134 | 0.90 | −0.47 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 14,959 | 84.86 | +1.37 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 17,628 | | |
| | UDC hold | UDC hold | Swing | –1.45 | |

### 2014 election

General election 2014: Okavango :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | BCP | Bagalatia Arone | 6,864 | 54.68 | −4.36 |
| | BDP | Mbahahauka Kambimba | 5,473 | 43.60 | +2.64 |
| | UDC | Vister Moruti | 215 | 1.71 | −39.25 |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 1,391 | 11.08 | −7.0 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 12,552 | 98.63 | +1.68 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 174 | 1.37 | −1.68 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 12,726 | 83.49 | +6.89 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 15,243 | | |
| | BCP hold | BCP hold | Swing | −3.5 | |

### 2009 election

General election 2009: Okavango :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | BCP | Bagalatia Arone | 6,211 | 59.04 | +14.0 |
| | BDP | Vister Moruti | 4,309 | 40.96 | −7.07 |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 1.902 | 18.08 | N/A |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 10,520 | 96.95 | +0.53 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 331 | 3.05 | −0.53 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,851 | 76.60 | −6.48 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 14,166 | | |
| | BCP gain from BDP | BCP gain from BDP | Swing | +10.54 | |

### 2004 election

General election 2004: Okavango :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | BDP | Vister Moruti | 4,025 | 48.03 | +4.21 |
| | BCP | Joseph Kavindama | 3,774 | 45.04 | +1.03 |
| | BAM | Sakuze Otukeseng | 581 | 6.93 | −2.6 |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 433 | 7.67 | N/A |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 8,380 | 96.42 | −3.33 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 311 | 3.58 | +3.33 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,691 | 83.08 | −4.13 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,461 | | |
| | BDP gain from BCP | BDP gain from BCP | Swing | +1.50 | |

### 1999 election

General election 1999: Okavango :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | BCP | Joseph Kavindama | 4,308 | 44.01 | −7.01 |
| | BDP | Vister Moruti | 4,226 | 43.18 | −8.10 |
| | BAM | M. Kwamovu | 933 | 9.53 | +4.38 |
| | BNF | S.A. Sitemo | 321 | 3.28 | −47.74 |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 82 | 0.83 | −15.11 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 9,788 | 93.09 | N/A |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 726 | 6.91 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,514 | 78.95 | +11.49 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 13,318 | | |
| | BCP hold | BCP hold | Swing | −7.56 | |

### 1994 election

General election 1994: Okavango :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | BNF | Joseph Kavindama | 3,181 | 51.02 | +4.95 |
| | BDP | Vister Moruti | 2,187 | 35.08 | +0.57 |
| | IFP | M. M. Mogae | 1,392 | 13.91 | −5.5 |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 994 | 15.94 | +4.38 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,235 | 67.46 | +6.73 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,242 | | |
| | BNF hold | BNF hold | Swing | +2.76 | |

### 1989 election

General election 1989: Okavango :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | BNF | Joseph Kavindama | 3,304 | 46.07 | +6.98 |
| | BDP | Vister Moruti | 2,475 | 34.51 | +4.48 |
| | BIP | Motsamai Mpho | 1,392 | 19.41 | −11.47 |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 829 | 11.56 | +3.35 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,171 | 60.73 | −12.05 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,808 | | |
| | BNF hold | BNF hold | Swing | +5.73 | |

### 1984 election

General election 1984: Okavango :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | BNF | Joseph Kavindama | 2,719 | 39.09 | +35.12 |
| | BIP | Motsamai Mpho | 2,148 | 30.88 | −4.87 |
| | BDP | Bailang Salepito | 2,089 | 30.03 | −30.25 |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 571 | 8.21 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,956 | 72.78 | +14.55 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,557 | | |
| | BNF gain from BDP | BNF gain from BDP | Swing | +20.0 | |

### 1979 election

General election 1979: Okavango :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | BDP | Bailang Salepito | 4,099 | 60.28 | +12.13 |
| | BIP | Motsamai Mpho | 2,431 | 35.75 | −16.1 |
| | Independent | Joseph Kavindama | 270 | 3.97 | N/A |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 1,668 | 24.53 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,800 | 58.23 | +33.07 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,678 | | |
| | BDP gain from BIP | BDP gain from BIP | Swing | +14.11 | |

### 1974 election

General election 1974: Okavango :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | BIP | Motsamai Mpho | 1,204 | 51.85 | −4.33 |
| | BDP | Modisang Modisang | 1,118 | 48.15 | +4.33 |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 85 | 3.7 | −8.66 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,322 | 25.16 | −22.11 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,230 | | |
| | BIP hold | BIP hold | Swing | −4.33 | |

### 1969 election

General election 1969: Okavango :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | BIP | Motsamai Mpho | 1,923 | 56.18 | +9.84 |
| | BDP | Tsheko Tsheko | 1,500 | 43.82 | −9.84 |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 423 | 12.36 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,423 | 47.27 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,241 | | |
| | BIP gain from BDP | BIP gain from BDP | Swing | +9.84 | |

### 1965 election

General election 1965: Okavango :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | BDP | Tsheko Tsheko | 1,929 | 53.66 |
| | BIP | Motsamai Mpho | 1,666 | 46.34 |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 263 | 7.32 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,595 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | N/A | |
| | BDP win (new seat) | BDP win (new seat) | BDP win (new seat) | BDP win (new seat) |