Botswana elections: Duma Boko – the politician who did the unthinkable

Self-confident and well-mannered, Botswana’s new President Duma Boko bears the hallmarks of a highly trained human rights lawyer.

The 54-year-old’s well-thought-out sentences speak to his legal education first in Botswana and then at Harvard Law School in the US.

And despite being humbled by victory, the fact that he won the presidency at the third time of asking reveals a single-minded ambition.

For more than 50 years, opposition politicians have dreamed of overthrowing the powerful Botswana Democratic Party, but only Boko has made it a reality.

The painful manner of victory of his party Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) surprised him, including Boko who also admitted that he was shocked by the figures.

But, dressed in his signature blue suit, he didn’t cheer or celebrate wildly when he made his first comments to the media on Friday when the extent of his win became clear.

“I can only promise [the people] that I will do my best. Where I fail and am wrong, I will look to them for guidance,” he said.

Boko, caught the nation facing difficult economic times with his promises of change, employment and government grants.

“People love him and this is the result,” journalist Innocent Selatlhwa told the BBC’s Focus on Africa podcast.

Throughout his campaign, in rallies, Boko asked supporters to come closer and listen to their complaints in a way that made him appeal to young people, the journalist added. Boko was serious, but always engaging and friendly.

He also decided that he would not be a member of parliament and put all his efforts into becoming president – a brave step, according to Selatlhwa.

Born in 1969, in the central region of the country, in the small town of Mahalapye, Boko was always respectful according to his relatives.

“He was determined to do the right thing. His sense of justice deepened,” his aunt told a local newspaper.

While in school, he was elected student council president.

In his legal career, he has emerged as one of the country’s leading lawyers, according to political analyst Lesole Machacha.

As he loves knowledge and education, Boko is always well informed about current affairs and issues in Botswana, Mr Machacha told the BBC.

“He is determined to fix the country,” he added.

He became the leader of the Botswana National Front (BNF) in 2010, which used to have “Communist views”, said Mr Machaha, but the party has now focused on this institution.

But frustrated by years of defeat by the opposition parties, Boko became the founder of an alliance of opposition parties and the UDC was born.

He first came under fire ten years ago when he described academic staff at the University of Botswana as “useless”, even though he was a former teacher.

Many people take it as a look at the country’s education system.

When asked about this by a reporter from the South African news channel eNCA, he said: “The truth hurts.”

Earlier this month, his wife Kaone Boko told Mmegi newspaper that her husband was disciplined to the point of being stubborn.

“He doesn’t back down from a fight; no matter how big the enemy is,” he said.

A clue perhaps as to how he managed to stay the course and come up with one of the most successful political parties in Africa.