Duma Boko facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Duma Boko
|
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
Boko in 2025
|
|
| 6th President of Botswana | |
| Assumed office 1 November 2024 |
|
| Vice President | Ndaba Gaolathe |
| Preceded by | Mokgweetsi Masisi |
| President of the Umbrella for Democratic Change | |
| Assumed office November 2012 |
|
| Vice President | Ndaba Gaolathe |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Leader of the Opposition | |
| In office 25 October 2014 – 28 August 2019 |
|
| President |
|
| Preceded by | Dumelang Saleshando |
| Succeeded by | Dumelang Saleshando |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 31 December 1969 Mahalapye, Botswana |
| Political party | Botswana National Front |
| Other political affiliations |
Umbrella for Democratic Change |
| Spouse | Kaone Boko |
| Alma mater | University of Botswana (LLB) Harvard Law School (LLM) |
| Profession |
|
| Cabinet | Boko cabinet |
Duma Gideon Boko, born on 31 December 1969, is an important leader in Botswana. He is currently the sixth President of Botswana, taking office on 1 November 2024. Before becoming President, he was the leader of a group of political parties called the Umbrella for Democratic Change since 2012. He also served as the Leader of the Opposition in Botswana's Parliament from 2014 to 2019. As President, he is the head of the country and works to make life better for everyone in Botswana.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Duma Boko grew up in a village called Mahalapye, located in the Central District of Botswana. His father was a teacher at Madiba Brigades. Duma also has a sister named Emma.
In 1987, Duma Boko began studying law at the University of Botswana. While there, he was chosen to be part of the Student Representative Council (SRC), which helps represent students. Many of his classmates later became important judges. After finishing his studies in 1993, he went to Harvard Law School in the United States, where he earned another law degree called a Master of Laws.
Career as a Lawyer and Teacher
After his studies, Duma Boko returned to Botswana. From 1993 to 2003, he taught law at the University of Botswana. At the same time, he also ran his own law firm, helping people with legal issues.
In the early 2000s, he wrote articles for a newspaper called The Monitor. In these articles, he shared his ideas about how judges and academics could do more research to make better and more informed decisions.
Stepping into Politics
Duma Boko became the leader of a political party called the Botswana National Front (BNF) in 2010. This was a big step in his career. The BNF had faced some challenges, and he worked to make it stronger.
He then played a key role in creating a new alliance of major opposition parties in Botswana. This alliance was named the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC). The idea was for different parties to work together to have a stronger voice in the country's politics. Some members of the BNF were worried about joining this alliance, but Duma Boko and his team won all the court cases that challenged the formation of the UDC.
Elections and Leadership
The 2014 General Election
In the 2014 Botswana general election, Duma Boko led the UDC. His alliance came in second place, winning 17 seats in the National Assembly, while the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) won 37. Because of this, Duma Boko became the Leader of the Opposition, which meant he was the main voice challenging the ruling party in Parliament.
The 2019 General Election
During the 2019 Botswana general election, Duma Boko ran for a seat in Parliament but was defeated by Anna Mokgethi from the BDP. Because he lost his seat, he also lost his role as Leader of the Opposition. After this election, he claimed there were problems with how the election was run, including issues with election ink and voter registration cards.
The Historic 2024 General Election
The 2024 Botswana general election was a very important moment for Botswana. Even though some parties had left the UDC, Duma Boko's alliance and other opposition parties worked together to win a majority of seats. This was a huge change, as the BDP, which had been in power since Botswana became independent in 1966, won only four seats.
On 1 November 2024, Duma Boko was sworn in as the President of Botswana. This was a historic event, marking the first time an opposition party had won a general election in the country's history. A larger public ceremony was held on 8 November. As President, he appointed Lesego Chombo as the Minister of Youth and Gender Affairs.
President of Botswana
During his campaign in 2024, President Boko promised to make Botswana's economy stronger by finding new ways to create wealth, not just relying on resources like diamonds. He also pledged to increase wages, student allowances, and pensions for older people.
As President, he has stated his plans to offer temporary work and residence permits to Zimbabweans who are in Botswana without official documents. He also wants to talk with De Beers again about the agreements for Botswana's diamond industry.
In his first major speech to the nation in November 2024, President Boko announced that his government would focus on investing more in solar energy and exploring new crops for medicine and industry. He also mentioned discussions with Elon Musk to bring affordable internet access to everyone in Botswana through Starlink. In March 2025, President Boko attended the launch of Botswana's first satellite, BOTSAT-1, which went into space from SpaceX facilities in California, USA.
See also
In Spanish: Duma Boko para niños
