Serowe North
{{Short description|Parliamentary constituency in the Central District of Botswana, 1965–2004, 2014 to present}}
{{Infobox constituency
|name = Serowe North
|type = Single-member
|constituency_link =
|parl_name = National Assembly
|image = Botswana National Assembly - Serowe North (2024).svg
|caption =
|electorate =
|district = Central
|towns = Serowe
|population = 29,972
|year = 1965
|blank1_name = Abolished
|blank1_info = 1999
|blank2_name = Re-established
|blank2_info = 2014
|blank3_name = MP
|blank3_info = Baratiwa Mathoothe
|blank4_name = Margin of victory
|blank4_info = 4,836 (40.3 pp)
|previous = Serowe North East
Serowe North West
|next =
|party = {{color test|{{party color|Botswana Patriotic Front}}|size=1}} BPF
|area = 3,004 km2
}}
Serowe North is a constituency in the Central District represented by Baratiwa Mathoothe, a BPF MP in the National Assembly of Botswana since 2019.
Constituency profile
Serowe North lies in the Central District and is primarily rural, with the main settlement being the village of Serowe. The constituency is part of the three historically safe BDP seats that flipped to the BPF and had an average swing of 76.7pp towards the BPF.{{Cite journal |last1=Seabo |first1=Batlang |last2=Nyenhuis |first2=Robert |date=2021-11-23 |title=Botswana's 2019 General Elections: A Referendum on General Ian Khama |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/african-studies-review/article/abs/botswanas-2019-general-elections-a-referendum-on-general-ian-khama/025D7A45D5F26B1A8045E91529DCAAB5#access-block |journal=African Studies Review |language=en |volume=64 |issue=4 |pages=854–883 |doi=10.1017/asr.2021.69 |s2cid=244539238 |issn=0002-0206}} This shift was attributed to the fact that the BaNgwato tribe, of which the Khama family is the royal family, resides in the Serowe area. Prior to Ian Khama's departure from the BDP, the constituency consistently voted for the party by significant margins. However, following the fallout between Ian Khama and President Mokgweetsi Masisi, Khama encouraged people in the Serowe region to vote for the newly formed BPF and this message strongly resonated with the locals.{{Cite web |last=Basimanebotlhe |first=Tsaone |date=2022-10-10 |title=Serowe constituencies vulnerable as BPF rumpus continues |url=https://www.mmegi.bw/news/serowe-constituencies-vulnerable-as-bpf-rumpus-continues/news |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=Mmegi Online |language=en}}
Serowe North was the constituency of Botswana's first President, Seretse Khama, from 1965 until a constitutional amendment stated that the sitting president could not simultaneously be an elected member of the National Assembly in 1974. As such, it was traditionally always one of the BDP's safest strongholds in the country, with the party rarely obtaining less than 90% of the vote there from its establishment ahead of the inaugural 1965 elections until its last election in 1999 before its abolition ahead of the 2004 elections.
The constituency has the following localities:{{Cite book |url=https://www.iec.gov.bw/images/2022_Delimitation_Final_Report.pdf |title=2022 DELIMITATION COMMISSION REPORT |year=2022|pages=46}}
- Parts of Serowe
- Paje
- Mabeleapodi
- Tshimoyapula
Members of Parliament
Key:
{{Party index link|Botswana Democratic Party}} {{Party index link|Botswana Patriotic Front}}
| class=wikitable |
| Election
!colspan=2| Winner |
|---|
| {{Bechuanaland election link|1965}}
| bgcolor={{party color|Botswana Democratic Party}}| | rowspan=2 | Seretse Khama |
| {{Botswana election link|1969}}
| width=5 bgcolor={{party color|Botswana Democratic Party}}| |
| {{Botswana election link|1974}}
| bgcolor={{party color|Botswana Democratic Party}}| | rowspan=3 | Colin Blackbeard |
| {{Botswana election link|1979}}
| bgcolor={{party color|Botswana Democratic Party}}| |
| {{Botswana election link|1984}}
| bgcolor={{party color|Botswana Democratic Party}}| |
| {{Botswana election link|1989}}
| bgcolor={{party color|Botswana Democratic Party}}| | rowspan=2 | Roy Blackbeard |
| {{Botswana election link|1994}}
| bgcolor={{party color|Botswana Democratic Party}}| |
| 1998 by-election
| bgcolor={{party color|Botswana Democratic Party}}| | rowspan=2 | Ian Khama |
| {{Botswana election link|1999}}
| bgcolor={{party color|Botswana Democratic Party}}| |
| colspan="3" | |
| {{Botswana election link|2014}}
| width=5 bgcolor={{party color|Botswana Democratic Party}}| |
| {{Botswana election link|2019}}
| width=5 bgcolor={{party color|Botswana Patriotic Front}}| | rowspan=2| Baratiwa Mathoothe |
| {{Botswana election link|2024}}
| width=5 bgcolor={{party color|Botswana Patriotic Front}}| |
Election results
=2024 election=
{{Election box begin|
|title=General election 2024: Serowe North}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|party=Botswana Patriotic Front|candidate=Baratiwa Mathoothe|votes=7,635|percentage=63.66|change=+21.00}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Botswana Democratic Party|candidate=Ogaketse Mathware|votes=2,799|percentage=23.34|change=−11.11}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Botswana Congress Party|candidate=Matthews Batsalelwang|votes=1,126|percentage=9.39|change=N/A}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Botswana Republican Party|candidate=Kabelo Pusoetsile|votes=433|percentage=3.71|change=N/A}}
{{Election box margin of victory|votes=4,836|percentage=40.32|change=+32.11}}
{{Election box total valid
|votes = 11,993
|percentage = 99.24
|change = +0.27
}}
{{Election box rejected|
|votes = 92
|percentage = 0.76
|change = −0.27
}}
{{Election box turnout|votes=12,085|percentage=81.49|change=−2.38}}
{{Election box registered electors|
|reg. electors = 14,830
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
|winner = Botswana Patriotic Front
|swing = +16.06
}}
{{Election box end}}
=2019 election=
{{Election box begin|
|title=General election 2019: Serowe North[https://www.iec.gov.bw/images/Botswana_2019_General_Elections_REPORT(1).pdf Independent Electoral Commission - Botswana National Assembly, 2019]}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|party=Botswana Patriotic Front|candidate=Baratiwa Mathoothe|votes=5,394|percentage=42.66|change=New}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Botswana Democratic Party|candidate=Kgotla Autlwetse|votes=4,356|percentage=34.45|change=–50.95}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Umbrella for Democratic Change|candidate=Keaobaka Kgano|votes=1,656|percentage=13.10|change=+3.62}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Independent politician|candidate=Dikgakgamatso Seretse|votes=926|percentage=7.32|change=New}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Alliance for Progressives|candidate=Dods Selebego|votes=312|percentage=2.47|change=New}}
{{Election box margin of victory|votes=1,038|percentage=8.21|change=N/A}}
{{Election box total valid
|votes = 12,644
|percentage = 98.97
|change = +0.01
}}
{{Election box rejected|
|votes = 131
|percentage = 1.03
|change = –0.01
}}
{{Election box turnout|votes=12,775|percentage=83.87|change=+2.38}}
{{Election box registered electors|
|reg. electors = 15,231
}}
{{Election box gain with party link|
|winner = Botswana Patriotic Front
|loser = Botswana Democratic Party
|swing = +46.81
}}
{{Election box end}}
=2014 election=
{{Election box begin no change|
|title=General election 2014: Serowe North[https://www.iec.gov.bw/images/documents/2014%20General%20Elections%20Report.pdf Independent Electoral Commission - Botswana National Assembly, 2014]}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Botswana Democratic Party|candidate=Kgotla Autlwetse|votes=9,611|percentage=85.40}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Umbrella for Democratic Change (2014)|candidate=Dods Selebogo|votes=1,067|percentage=9.48}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Botswana Congress Party|candidate=Motswakhumo Basego|votes=576|percentage=5.12}}
{{Election box margin of victory no change|votes=8,544|percentage=75.92}}
{{Election box total valid no change
|votes = 11,254
|percentage = 98.96
}}
{{Election box rejected no change|
|votes = 118
|percentage = 1.04
}}
{{Election box turnout no change|votes=11,372|percentage=81.49}}
{{Election box registered electors no change|
|reg. electors = 13,955
}}
{{Election box notional hold with party link no swing|
|winner = Botswana Democratic Party
|loser = Umbrella for Democratic Change (2014)}}
{{Election box end}}
=1999 election=
{{Election box begin|
|title=General election 1999: Serowe North[https://www.iec.gov.bw/images/documents/1999_General_Elections_Report.pdf Independent Electoral Commission - Botswana National Assembly, 1999]}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|party=Botswana Democratic Party|candidate=Ian Khama|votes=5,430|percentage=92.02 |change=+4.72}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Botswana National Front|candidate=S. G. Ramaribana|votes=329|percentage=4.74|change=−7.96}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Botswana Congress Party|candidate=Toro Lesego|votes=225|percentage=3.24|change=−9.46}}
{{Election box margin of victory|votes=5,101|percentage=87.28|change=+12.68}}
{{Election box total valid
|votes = 6,946
|percentage = 96.19
|change = N/A
}}
{{Election box rejected|
|votes = 275
|percentage = 3.81
|change = N/A
}}
{{Election box turnout|votes=7,221|percentage=73.27|change=+10.2}}
{{Election box registered electors|
|reg. electors = 9,856
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
|winner = Botswana Democratic Party
|swing =+6.34}}
{{Election box end}}
=1994 election=
{{Election box begin|
|title=General election 1994: Serowe North[http://www.electionpassport.com/files/BW/BW.xlsx Results by constituency]}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|party=Botswana Democratic Party|candidate=Roy Blackbeard|votes=5,430|percentage=87.3|change=−5.17}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Botswana National Front|candidate=Toro Lesego|votes=790|percentage=12.7|change=+5.17}}
{{Election box margin of victory|votes=4,640|percentage=74.6|change=−10.34}}
{{Election box turnout|votes=6,220|percentage=63.07|change=−5.39}}
{{Election box registered electors|
|reg. electors = 9,862
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
|winner = Botswana Democratic Party
|swing =−5.17}}
{{Election box end}}
=1989 election=
{{Election box begin|
|title=General election 1989: Serowe North}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|party=Botswana Democratic Party|candidate=Roy Blackbeard|votes=7,036|percentage=92.47|change=−3.1}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Botswana National Front|candidate=Abednico Masalila|votes=573|percentage=7.53|change=+3.1}}
{{Election box margin of victory|votes=6,463|percentage=84.94|change=−6.2}}
{{Election box turnout|votes=7,609|percentage=68.46|change=−15.54}}
{{Election box registered electors|
|reg. electors = 11,114
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
|winner = Botswana Democratic Party
|swing =−3.1}}
{{Election box end}}
=1984 election=
{{Election box begin|
|title=General election 1984: Serowe North}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|party=Botswana Democratic Party|candidate=Colin Blackbeard|votes=8,033|percentage=95.57|change=−3.53}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Botswana National Front|candidate=Modiri Khama|votes=372|percentage=4.43|change=+3.53}}
{{Election box margin of victory|votes=7,661|percentage=91.14|change=−7.06}}
{{Election box turnout|votes=8,405|percentage=84.00|change=+24.54}}
{{Election box registered electors|
|reg. electors = 10,006
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
|winner = Botswana Democratic Party
|swing =−3.53}}
{{Election box end}}
=1979 election=
{{Election box begin|
|title=General election 1979: Serowe North}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|party=Botswana Democratic Party|candidate=Colin Blackbeard|votes=4,352|percentage=99.10|change=+0.25}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Botswana National Front|candidate=T. E. Kuhlman|votes=50|percentage=0.90|change=−0.25}}
{{Election box margin of victory|votes=4,302|percentage=98.2|change=+0.5}}
{{Election box turnout|votes=6,481|percentage=59.46|change=+22.42}}
{{Election box registered electors|
|reg. electors = 10,900
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
|winner = Botswana Democratic Party
|swing =+0.25}}
{{Election box end}}
=1974 election=
{{Election box begin no change|
|title=General election 1974: Serowe North{{Cite book |first= |url=http://www.electionpassport.com/files/BW-1974GenlRptSelParts.pdf |title=Report to the Minister of State on the general elections, 1974 |date=1974 |publisher=Supervisor of Elections}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Botswana Democratic Party|candidate=Colin Blackbeard|votes=3,360|percentage=98.85}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Botswana National Front|candidate=T. E. Kuhlman|votes=39|percentage=1.15}}
{{Election box margin of victory no change|votes=3,321|percentage=97.7}}
{{Election box turnout no change|votes=3,389|percentage=37.04}}
{{Election box registered electors no change|
|reg. electors = 9,149
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change|
|winner = Botswana Democratic Party
| swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}
=1969 election=
{{Election box begin no change| title=General election 1969: Serowe North{{Cite web |date=1969 |title=Report on the General Elections 1969 |url=http://www.electionpassport.com/files/BW-1969GenlRptSelParts.pdf}}}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
|party = Botswana Democratic Party
|candidate = Seretse Khama
|votes = Walkover
|percentage = N/A
}}
{{Election box majority no change|
|votes = N/A
|percentage = N/A
}}
{{Election box registered electors no change|
|reg. electors = 5,437
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change|
|winner = Botswana Democratic Party
|swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}
=1965 election=
{{Election box begin no change|
|title=General election 1965: Kanye South{{Cite journal |last1=Gossett |first1=Charles W. |last2=Kebapetse |first2=Lotshwao |date=21 April 2013 |title=Report on the 1965 General Election and the 1966 Local Government Election |url=https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2254423 |journal=Botswana Notes & Records |language=en |publisher=Social Science Research Network |publication-place=Rochester, NY |publication-date=2009 |volume=41 |pages=17 |ssrn=2254423 |access-date=2024-01-27 |via=}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Botswana Democratic Party|candidate=Seretse Khama|votes=5,909|percentage=98.47}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Botswana Independence Party|candidate=K. K. Motshedisi|votes=53|percentage=0.88}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Botswana People's Party|candidate=K. T. Moletsane|votes=39|percentage=0.65}}
{{Election box margin of victory no change|votes=5,856|percentage=97.59}}
{{Election box turnout no change|votes=6,001|percentage=N/A}}
{{Election box registered electors no change|
|reg. electors = N/A
}}
{{Election box new seat win|
|winner = Botswana Democratic Party
|swing = N/A}}
{{Election box end}}