VOA标准英语2009年-Botswana's Khama to be Sworn in Tuesday fo

By Scott Bobb
Johannesburg
19 October 2009

 
Ian Khama (June 2009 file photo)
Botswana's President Ian Khama is to be inaugurated for a five-year term following his party's victory in Friday's elections. 

Election officials say President Ian Khama will be sworn in for a second term on Tuesday after declaring his Botswana Democratic Party had won 45 of the 57 seats in parliament.

Mr. Khama celebrated¹ his victory with supporters at a sports field in Gaborone.

Speaking in the local Setswana language, he congratulated the BDP members of parliament and counselors² for winning the 2009 election.

And he congratulated the 11 opposition³ politicians and one independent candidate who also won seats in the next parliament.

Mr. Khama had campaigned on what he called the four "D's:" democracy, development, dignity and discipline.

At the rally he announced he was adding a fifth "D:" delivery on his promises.

Election officials said the main opposition party, The Botswana National Front, won six parliamentary seats while a splinter group, the Botswana Congress Party, won five.

The 56-year-old former army commander is the son of Botswana's first president, Seretse Khama. He had been elected head of the BDP and was serving as vice-president last year when then-president Festus Mogae retired⁴.

Mr. Mogae had served 10 years as head-of-state, the maximum allowed by the constitution. He had come to power in similar fashion.

An 88-member observer team from the Southern African Development Community praised the election for its peace and credibility and high degree of tolerance⁵.

Opposition leaders have accepted the results.

Botswana has enjoyed a high rate of economic growth and a per capita income of nearly $14,000 a year.

But nearly one-half of its people live on less than $1 per day. And the economy has been hit hard by the fall in the price of diamonds which make up one-third of its gross domestic product.

1 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

2 counselors   

n.顾问( counselor的名词复数 )；律师；（使馆等的）参赞；（协助学生解决问题的）指导老师

参考例句：

• Counselors began an inquiry into industrial needs. 顾问们开始调查工业方面的需要。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• We have experienced counselors available day and night. ) 这里有经验的法律顾问全天候值班。） 来自超越目标英语 第4册

3 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

4 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

5 tolerance   

n.宽容；容忍，忍受；耐药力；公差

参考例句：

• Tolerance is one of his strengths.宽容是他的一个优点。
• Human beings have limited tolerance of noise.人类对噪音的忍耐力有限。