Botswana's President Mokgweetsi Masisi acknowledged defeat after preliminary results revealed that his ruling party had lost its parliamentary majority after almost six decades in power.

According to a AljazeeraMasisi's statement yesterday, Thursday (31), was made before the final results were announced, with his Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) coming fourth, according to the electoral commission's accounts.

"We made a big mistake in the eyes of the people," Masisi said at a press conference in the capital, Gaborone.

"We were really convinced of our message. But everything indicates that there is no way to pretend that we are going to form a government."

The President, who was seeking a second five-year term in Wednesday's elections, said he would "step aside".

"I want to congratulate the opposition for their victory and for conceding the election," said Masisi.

The results should be confirmed by the electoral commission this Friday.

According to the country's electoral system, the first party to win 31 of the 61 seats in the legislature will be declared the winner, install its candidate as president and form a government.

The BDP has ruled the diamond-rich southern African nation since 1966 and was expected to win.

The main opposition party, Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), maintained a strong lead in the partial results, making its leader, Duma Boko, the likely presidential candidate.

(Photo DR)