<p>Voting began on Wednesday in Botswana for a tightly contested general election that could test the country's reputation as a beacon of democracy and stability in Africa.</p>.<p>The historic Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) was shaken up earlier this year after former president Ian Khama dramatically renounced his hand-picked successor Mokgweetsi Masisi and backed the main opposition group.</p>.<p>Voters started gathering late on Tuesday at Tlogatloga secondary school in Botswana's capital Gaborone, waiting all night to cast their ballot.</p>.<p>"I have spotted a candidate I think is the right person and I have to get him in," said banker Chops Maswikiti, 37.</p>.<p>"He does not belong to the party I voted for in the last two terms but he represents strong sanity on our side," he told AFP.</p>.<p>Around 931,000 of the country's 2.2 million people are registered to vote in the parliamentary and local elections.</p>.<p>The BDP, the Khama-backed UDC and two smaller parties will vie for 57 seats in parliament. The party with the most seats chooses the president.</p>.<p>Khama stormed out of the BDP in May after accusing President Masisi -- his deputy until last year -- of autocracy.</p>.<p>Should he fulfil his goal to unseat the BDP, it would be the first time diamond-rich Botswana has seen a change of government in 53 years.</p>
<p>Voting began on Wednesday in Botswana for a tightly contested general election that could test the country's reputation as a beacon of democracy and stability in Africa.</p>.<p>The historic Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) was shaken up earlier this year after former president Ian Khama dramatically renounced his hand-picked successor Mokgweetsi Masisi and backed the main opposition group.</p>.<p>Voters started gathering late on Tuesday at Tlogatloga secondary school in Botswana's capital Gaborone, waiting all night to cast their ballot.</p>.<p>"I have spotted a candidate I think is the right person and I have to get him in," said banker Chops Maswikiti, 37.</p>.<p>"He does not belong to the party I voted for in the last two terms but he represents strong sanity on our side," he told AFP.</p>.<p>Around 931,000 of the country's 2.2 million people are registered to vote in the parliamentary and local elections.</p>.<p>The BDP, the Khama-backed UDC and two smaller parties will vie for 57 seats in parliament. The party with the most seats chooses the president.</p>.<p>Khama stormed out of the BDP in May after accusing President Masisi -- his deputy until last year -- of autocracy.</p>.<p>Should he fulfil his goal to unseat the BDP, it would be the first time diamond-rich Botswana has seen a change of government in 53 years.</p>