GABORONE – Botswana on Thursday counts votes in elections expected to return President Mokgweetsi Masisi to power after a first term marked by rising unemployment and concerns about the diamond-dependent economy.

Wednesday’s vote took place orderly in a country proud of its democratic system installed when it gained independence from Britain in 1966, making it the region’s oldest democracy, although it has always was governed by the same party.

The ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) is confident the results, expected Thursday evening, will extend its 58 years in power, although commentators have said weakened support could lead to the country’s first hung parliament.

Counting for the municipal vote began immediately with polling stations closing on Wednesday evening while parliamentary ballot boxes were transported to separate centers.

With 61 parliamentary seats up for grabs, Botswana’s first-past-the-post system means the first party to secure 31 seats will be declared the winner and install its presidential candidate.

Masisi, one of four presidential candidates, said after voting Wednesday that he was confident that “victory is certain.”

But many voters said it was time for change, amid allegations of corruption, nepotism and government mismanagement.

Most of Botswana’s financial assets are held by 10% of the wealthy population and the gap between rich and poor is one of the widest in the world, according to the World Bank.

Unemployment reached 27 percent as the economy suffered from a collapse in the diamond market, its main source of income.

“The first priority of the next government or president would be to stabilize the economy and create some degree of strategic certainty in the mining sector,” said political commentator Olopeng Rabasimane.

“The second must be job creation, especially for young people. The third would be the diversification of the economy to make it less dependent on diamonds,” he said.

Masisi acknowledged concerns about a decline in Botswana’s foreign exchange reserves and weakening international diamond sales, saying the government would increase local investment as a countermeasure.

“We intend to solve this problem by putting money in the pockets of citizens and building infrastructure,” he told reporters.

But the country needs more than construction, Rabasimane said. “You can’t build roads where there’s no money to maintain them.”

In 2023, growth fell to 2.7 percent from 5.5 percent in 2022, according to the IMF. It is projected at 1% in 2024.