Gaborone

Gaborone is the capital and largest city of Botswana. It has a population of about 246,325 people, which is around 10% of the country's total population. The city is located between Kgale Hill and Oodi Hill, close to where the Notwane River and Segoditshane River meet. It is just 15 kilometres from the border with South Africa.

The city was named after Chief Gaborone of the Tlokwa people. It was chosen as the capital in the mid-1960s when Botswana became independent. The city has a main area called "Main Mall" with many shops and a semi-circular area with government offices.

Gaborone is important as the political and economic center of Botswana. It is home to the Botswana Stock Exchange and the headquarters of the Southern African Development Community. People in the city mainly speak Setswana, English, Kalanga, and Kgalagadi.

History

Main articles: History of Gaborone and Timeline of Gaborone

People have lived near the Notwane River for a very long time. Around 1880, the Tlokwa people moved to this area and called their settlement Moshaweng. The name "Gaborone" means "it does not fit badly" or "it is not unbecoming". Early European colonizers called the place "Gaberones," which was short for "Gaborone's Village." This name came from Chief Gaborone of the Tlokwa.

The city was founded in 1964 when Botswana was getting ready to become independent. Before that, the capital was in Mafeking. Gaborone was chosen because it had fresh water, was close to a railway, and was in a central location. The city was built quickly to hold 20,000 people, but it grew much faster than planned.

After Botswana became independent in 1966, Gaborone became the capital. The city grew very fast, and many people moved there looking for homes and jobs. Today, Gaborone is a big, busy city that continues to grow.

Geography

See also: Geography of Botswana

Gaborone is located between Kgale and Oodi Hills, sitting on the Notwane River in the southeast part of Botswana. It is just 15 kilometres from the border with South Africa and sits at an elevation of 1,010 metres above sea level. Nearby cities include Ramotswa, Mogoditshane, Mochudi, and Tlokweng, many of which serve as places where people travel to and from Gaborone for work. Some well-known areas in Gaborone are Broadhurst, Gaborone West, The Village, Naledi, and the wealthy suburb of Phakalane.

In the middle of Gaborone is the Main Mall, which holds many important buildings and offices from other countries. Near the east end of the mall is the Civic Centre and the Pula Arch, which marks Botswana's independence day. Other important spots close by include the Botswana Stock Exchange, the National Museum and Art Gallery, and the main campus of the University of Botswana. West of the Main Mall is the Government Enclave, home to key government buildings such as the National Assembly and Ntlo ya Dikgosi, as well as the National Archives.

Climate

Gaborone has a hot semi-arid climate, meaning it is usually sunny and warm. Summers can be very hot during the day but cool at night. The city usually gets the most rain during the summer months between October and April. Winter days are still warm, but nights can be quite cool. Gaborone experiences about seventy-four days each year where temperatures reach above 32 °C, and around one day a year where temperatures drop below 0 °C. The city sometimes faces floods, with notable ones occurring in 2000, 2001, and 2006. The sunniest and windiest times are usually from September to November, while May through August tends to be calmer.

Demographics

Gaborone is the largest city in Botswana, with a population of 246,325 people based on the 2022 census. This means the city is home to over 10% of Botswana's total population. Many people live within 100 kilometres (62 mi) of Gaborone.

The city is growing quickly, with a population growth rate of 3.4%, the highest in the country. This growth is largely due to people moving to Gaborone from other parts of Botswana, attracted by better living conditions.

Places of worship

See also: Religion in Botswana

Many people in Gaborone gather to worship in Christian churches and temples. Some of these include groups linked to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Botswana, Assemblies of God, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, International Pentecostal Holiness Church, Christ Embassy, and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Gaborone. Because of a community of people from Serbia, there are also two Serbian Orthodox churches in the city.

Culture

The National Museum and Art Gallery is located northwest of the main area along Independence Road. It opened in 1968 and shows traditional crafts and artwork by local artists, including paintings by Thomas Baines and Lucas Sithole. You can see exhibits like Artists in Botswana, Children's Art Competition, and Thapong International. Outside, there are old ways of travel such as wagons, sledges, and pickup trucks. There is also a display about the San, the first people of southern Africa. The museum also has a big garden called the National Botanical Garden, opened in 2007, to protect Botswana’s native plants.

Every year in late March or early April, Gaborone holds the Maitisong Festival for seven days. This festival includes outdoor concerts, plays, and films in different places around the city. There was also a performing-arts competition called "My African Dream" that took place every year at the Gaborone International Convention Center during the 2000s. It featured many dancers and musicians.

The book series The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith is set in Gaborone. It follows Precious Ramotswe, Botswana’s first female private detective, as she solves mysteries. Another book series, the Detective Kubu books, features a police officer solving crimes in Gaborone.

Economy

Gaborone is an important center for the country's economy. Many major financial institutions have their main offices there, including the Bank of Botswana, Bank Gaborone, BancABC, and the Botswana Stock Exchange. Other important companies based in Gaborone are Air Botswana, Consumer Watchdog, Botswana Telecommunications Corporation, and Debswana, which works together with De Beers to mine diamonds.

The city is also home to the Southern African Development Community (SADC), an organization created in 1980 to help its member countries work together and become less dependent on South Africa. Many international companies, such as Hyundai, SABMiller, Daewoo, Volvo, and Siemens, have invested in Gaborone.

Orapa House, owned by Debswana, is a special building where diamonds are sorted and valued. It has unique architecture that allows sunlight to help in sorting the diamonds accurately. Recently, a Diamond Technology Park was opened to support the growth of the diamond industry in Botswana.

Sport

Gaborone has many places where people can play football, including SSKB Stadium, Mochudi Stadium, and the Botswana National Stadium. Teams from Gaborone, such as Botswana Defence Force XI, Gaborone United, Police XI, Township Rollers, and Uniao Flamengo Santos FC based in nearby Gabane, all compete in the Botswana Premier League. The Botswana national football team plays its matches in the National Stadium but has not yet reached the FIFA World Cup. However, they did qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon in January 2012.

Cricket is also popular in Gaborone, with the Botswana Cricket Association based there and two special grounds for the sport.

The Steinmetz Gaborone Marathon started in 2010 and takes runners through the city. After a break in 2011, it became an yearly event from 2012 onward.

Parks, recreation and wildlife

The Gaborone Dam is south of Gaborone and gives water to the city and nearby Lobatse. It is the second largest dam in Botswana and can hold a lot of water. People enjoy visiting the dam for fun activities. One part of the dam is being made into a place called The Waterfront for entertainment. There is a yacht club and a fishing club, as well as a public area with parks, playgrounds, and places to rent boats. Many people like to watch birds, sail, or fish there, but swimming is not allowed because of crocodiles and harmful parasites.

The Gaborone Game Reserve is a big park east of the city. It was built in 1988 and is a popular place to visit. You can drive through the reserve on your own and see many animals. The reserve has dirt roads for driving and picnics. There are no places to stay overnight, but there are guest houses and lodges nearby. The reserve has many types of plants and animals, including birds, monkeys, and antelopes. In March 2024, greater flamingos were seen there for the first time.

Kgale Hill is close to the city and is called the Sleeping Giant. It is 1,287 metres tall, and there are three paths to reach the top. The Mokolodi Nature Reserve is a park south of Gaborone where many animals live, like warthogs, zebras, giraffes, and rhinos. The park works on projects to help wildlife, such as bringing back white rhinos. It also has a centre to teach children about protecting animals.

Somarelang Tikologo is an organization in Gaborone that helps protect the environment. It has a park with a playground, a garden, and a place to drop off things for recycling.

Government

Main article: Parliament of Botswana

Local government

Gaborone is managed by the Gaborone City Council, the richest council in Botswana. It has 35 councillors who represent different areas of the city. Because Botswana is one country with a central government, the local councils get their powers from the national level. The Ministry of Local Government helps with hiring staff, training, budgeting, and planning.

The council is led by a mayor, a deputy mayor, and several committees. These committees handle money, health, housing, planning, business licenses, and education. The councillors choose the mayor and assign members to committees each year. The council employs 2,515 people.

The council used to get most of its money from a local tax, but now it mainly comes from property taxes. Some people criticize the council for having closed elections and not having enough control over its actions.

National government

Gaborone is the heart of Botswana's government. Many important government buildings are located west of the Main Mall in an area called the Government Enclave. This includes the National Assembly, the Ntlo ya Dikgosi, the National Archives, and the Department of Taxes. There is also a statue of Sir Seretse Khama, Botswana's first president, and a memorial for Batswana who died between 1939 and 1945. Another monument honors soldiers who died in the Rhodesian Bush War.

Before 1982, Gaborone had one area for electing members of Parliament. Later, it was split into several areas for elections. By 2019, Gaborone had five areas for electing Parliament members.

An International Law Enforcement Academy was opened in Gaborone in 2000 to train middle managers from countries in the Southern African Development Community.

There are 21 diplomatic missions in Gaborone.

Education

Gaborone has the most people with degrees and advanced qualifications in Botswana. About 70.9% of people in Gaborone have finished at least secondary school, while only 2.6% have never gone to school.

The city has many primary and secondary schools, both public and private. Some well-known schools include Westwood International School, Maru-a-Pula School, and St. Joseph's College, Kgale.

The main campus of the University of Botswana is located in the eastern part of the city. There are also several other universities and colleges in Gaborone, offering a range of subjects and programs.

Media

Gaborone has several newspapers, such as Mmegi, The Botswana Gazette, and The Voice. There are also magazines available in the city.

The radio station Yarona FM broadcasts from Gaborone on 106.6 FM, and there are other local stations too. Most homes in Gaborone have a working radio.

Before the year 2000, people in Gaborone watched television from BOP TV in Mahikeng. Now, the Gaborone Broadcasting Company and Botswana TV provide TV programs. Many households also have cell phones.

Infrastructure

Gaborone is one of the fastest-growing cities in Africa. The city was planned with tall buildings and modern designs, especially in the main shopping area called the Main Mall. This area has no cars and stretches from east to west. On the west end, you’ll find important government buildings, and on the east end is the city council.

The city’s central business district is still being built. It includes places like the Square Mall, The Tower, and the headquarters for the SADC. There is also a special court for trade problems and a monument with statues of three important leaders from Botswana’s past. The city gets most of its water from a big dam on the southeast side, which helps it grow.

Healthcare

Main article: List of hospitals in Botswana

The Botswana Red Cross Society, started in 1968, has its main office in Gaborone. Princess Marina Hospital is the largest hospital in the city with 500 beds. There are also other hospitals like Gaborone Private Hospital and Sidilega Private Hospital in Gaborone. The Cancer Association of Botswana is a group that helps people, started in 1998.

HIV/AIDS

See also: HIV/AIDS in Botswana

HIV is a big health concern in Gaborone. Many people in the city live with HIV. Women are more affected than men, and older adults are especially impacted. Learning about HIV is very important in Gaborone, even though some people have wrong ideas about how it spreads.

Transportation

Railways

Main article: Rail transport in Botswana

The railway is important for Gaborone, running north to south through the city. Botswana Railways operates a line from Cape Town to Harare through Bulawayo. The railway station is south of the Parliament House in the city center. The line stops in cities like Ramatlabama on the South African border, Lobatse, Gaborone, Palapye, Serule, Francistown, Ramokgwebana, and Plumtree, Zimbabwe. It became a cargo-only line in 2009 but started passenger service again in 2016.

Airports

Main article: List of airports in Botswana

Sir Seretse Khama International Airport is 25 kilometers north of the city. In 2018, it had flights to Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban, Addis Ababa, and domestic places. It is the home of Air Botswana, the country’s airline. The airport handled many flights in 2008 and was rebuilt into a modern terminal in 2010.

Roads

Major highways around Gaborone include the Trans-Kalahari Highway, A1 Highway, A10 Highway, and the Cairo-Cape Town Highway. Five main roads connect Gaborone to Lobatse, Kanye, Molepolole, Francistown through Mochudi, and Tlokweng.

Public transport

Kombi

Public transport in Gaborone includes small vans called Kombis and taxis within the city. Buses go to nearby villages and towns in Botswana.

Private traffic

Gaborone has many places to register vehicles. In 2008, over 15,000 new private vehicles were registered, including cars, minibuses, motorcycles, and tractors. The city also had the most vehicle registration renewals that year.

Notable people

See also: Category:People from Gaborone

Gaborone has been home to many well-known people. Letsile Tebogo, born in 2003, is a Motswana athlete and sprinter who won a silver medal at the 2023 World Championships in the 100 m. Kgosi Gaborone, who lived from around 1825 to 1931, was a Motswana chief after whom the city is named.

Other notable individuals from Gaborone include Alec Campbell, an archaeologist and museum curator, and Tjawangwa Dema, a poet born in 1981. Thamsanga Mnyele, an artist and member of the African National Congress, lived from 1948 to 1985. Boniface Tshosa Setlalekgosi served as the Roman Catholic bishop of the Diocese of Gaborone from 1981 to 2009. Wally Serote, born in 1944, is a poet and anti-apartheid activist. Dipsy Selolwane, born in 1978, is a football player, as are Abednico Powell, Joel Mogorosi, and Dirang Moloi. Alister Walker, born in 1982, is a squash player. Donald Molosi, born in 1985, is an actor, writer, and playwright. Sumaiyah Marope, around 1987, was Miss Botswana in 2009, and Emma Wareus, born in 1990, was Miss World Botswana in 2010. Matsieng is a Setswana traditional music group formed in Gaborone in 2005.

International relations

Gaborone has friendly connections with other cities around the world. One of these cities is Burbank in the United States. This means the two cities work together and share ideas to help each other grow and improve.