Voting starts in Botswana's election

By Serena Chaudhry

GABORONE (Reuters) - Voting started on Friday in Botswana's election which is expected to see President Ian Khama remain in power despite rising discontent over the economic state of the world's biggest diamond producer.

The southern African nation has been hit by recession as a global slowdown cuts demand for diamonds, which account for close to 40 percent of the economy.

The crisis has forced Botswana, seen as one of Africa's best-run countries with a history of budget surpluses and the region's strongest currency, to plunge itself into debt.

There was a steady stream of voters at most polling stations and police mounted patrols, though the atmosphere was calm.

"I think they (BDP) are really not good. They have to change ... there are not enough jobs and development," said 22-year old mass media intern, Judith Fising.

Joshua Taunyane, 61, a self-employed supporter of the BDP said the government had delivered on most of its programmes.

"I support Ian Khama's principles. The opposition is now getting dismantled," Taunyane told Reuters.

Gross domestic product is widely forecast to shrink 10 percent, and Botswana had to borrow $1.5 billion from the African Development Bank in June to plug a massive budget shortfall.