However, if she fails to secure more than 50 per cent of the vote once all results are in later this week, she could be forced into a run-off election.

The election, held on November 27, faced significant delays due to technical difficulties and ballot paper shortages, with voting extended by three days at several polling stations.

These issues have led to disputes over the legitimacy of the election, with the main opposition party, the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), rejecting the process as a "sham."

IPC’s candidate, Panduleni Itula, trails with 28 per cent of the vote, and the opposition has already announced plans to challenge the election results in court, citing numerous irregularities.

So far, results have been released for 79 of the 121 constituencies, with SWAPO also leading the National Assembly vote, holding 56.38 per cent of the vote against IPC’s 19.23 per cent. Namibia’s electoral commission reported a high voter turnout, with 73 per cent of the nearly 1.5 million registered voters casting their ballots.

The electoral commission has faced criticism for logistical issues such as ballot shortages and extended voting periods, which some opposition leaders claim undermined the electoral integrity.

Despite SWAPO’s long-standing governance since Namibia’s independence in 1990, dissatisfaction over high youth unemployment and social inequalities is driving a challenge to its political dominance.

The controversy surrounding the election's validity may lead to legal battles as opposition factions prepare to contest the results, fuelling a critical discourse regarding democracy in Namibia.

Masisi, who has led the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) since 2018, stated he would begin the necessary administrative work to facilitate a smooth transition.

The BDP has been in power since Botswana gained independence from Britain in 1966.

Preliminary tallies indicate that three opposition parties collectively won at least 31 out of 61 seats in the national legislature, positioning them to form the next government.

The Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) emerged as a significant force, securing over 24 seats, while the Botswana Congress Party and Botswana Patriotic Front garnered around a dozen seats between them.

If confirmed by the electoral commission later today, UDC leader Duma Boko, a Harvard-educated human rights lawyer, will be poised to assume the presidency.

Masisi expressed his readiness to transition into a role as a loyal opposition party, committed to holding the new government accountable.

Jailed former President Mikheil Saakashvili also joined the call for protests.

The European Union has demanded an investigation into the alleged "irregularities" observed during the election, which international observers described as marred by an uneven playing field, pressure, and instances of ballot box stuffing and violence against observers.

EU Council President Charles Michel stressed the need for a "swift, transparent, and independent investigation" into the electoral process, stating that the allegations must be addressed seriously.

With more than 99 per cent of precincts reporting, official results show the Georgian Dream party winning 54 per cent of the vote, while the main pro-Western opposition coalition received 37.5 per cent.

This outcome secures the ruling party 91 seats in the 150-member parliament, enabling them to govern but falling short of the supermajority needed to implement constitutional changes that could further marginalize opposition parties.

Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze claimed the victory was impressive and accused the opposition of undermining the constitutional order by disputing the results.

Meanwhile, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, an ally of the ruling party, congratulated the Georgian Dream for what he termed an "overwhelming victory" even before preliminary results were fully published.