GABORONE, Botswana, Nov 2, (AP): The party of Botswana's opposition candidate Duma Boko was declared the election winner Friday over incumbent President Mokgweetsi Masisi in a seismic change that ended the ruling party’s 58 years in power since independence from Britain. Masisi conceded defeat even before final results were announced, with his Botswana Democratic Party trailing in fourth place in the parliamentary elections in what appeared to be a humbling rejection by voters and a landslide victory for the main opposition party.

Hours later, Chief Justice Terence Rannowane announced that the opposition Umbrella for Democratic Change party had won a majority of seats in the election, making its candidate, Boko, the next president of the southern African country, which is one of the world’s biggest producers of mined diamonds. Masisi said he had called Boko to inform him he was conceding defeat.

The final results of the election were yet to be formally declared, but Rannowane said the UDC had reached the 31-seat threshold to win a majority. "I concede the election," Masisi said in an early-morning press conference two days after the vote. "I am proud of our democratic processes. Although I wanted a second term, I will respectfully step aside and participate in a smooth transition process.”

"I look forward to attending the coming inauguration and cheering on my successor. He will enjoy my support.” Masisi's BDP dominated politics in Botswana for nearly six decades, since independence in 1966. The nation of just 2.5 million people will now be governed by another party for the first time in its democratic history. "We lost this election massively,” said Masisi, a 63-year-old former high school teacher and UNICEF employee. "I have not packed a shoe. I did not expect it,” he added.