Botswana will conduct its general elections on October 30, as announced by President Mokgweetsi Masisi on Tuesday.
The president, who is seeking a second five-year term, declared that October 30 and 31 would be public holidays to encourage high voter turnout.
In his televised address, President Masisi also stated that the current Parliament would be dissolved on September 5.
The deadlines for submitting the names of presidential candidates and parliamentary and local council candidates are set for September 28 and October 4, respectively.
Botswana, a multi-party democracy, holds general elections every five years.
The ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), which has been in power since the country gained independence from Britain in 1966, confirmed Masisi, 63, as its candidate on Saturday.
He subsequently launched the party manifesto, promising job creation and economic prosperity.
In the 2019 elections, the BDP secured just over 52 percent of the votes, while the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) garnered nearly 36 percent.
This October, President Masisi will face off against the UDC’s Duma Boko, 54, and Dumelang Saleshando, 52, of the Botswana Congress Party.