Voting is taking place in Botswana today for a tightly contested general election that could test the country's reputation as a beacon of democracy and stability in Africa.<br />''<br />''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.<br />''Around 931,000 of the country's 2.2 million people are registered to vote in the parliamentary and local elections. Khama stormed out of the BDP in May after accusing President Masisi — his deputy until last year — of autocracy.<br />''<br />''<br />''<br />