60-579: Gaborone South is a constituency in Gaborone City represented in the National Assembly of Botswana . The constituency was originally created in 1984, following the division of the single constituency of Gaborone and has undergone multiple changes in its size and composition. Gaborone South was a safe seat for the BNF between 1984 and 2009. It was the seat of Kenneth Koma , president of
120-652: A Boer attack, and the survivors fled back to Letlhakeng. Matlapeng subsequently allied the Tlokwa with the Kwena tribe (led by Setshele ), and his people moved to the Kwena capital, Molepolole . However, Setshele soon accused the Tlokwa of cowardice in a battle against the Ngwato , and Matlapeng ended the alliance (on non-violent terms) and led his people to Tshwene-Tshwene (near Vleischfontein in present-day South Africa). In 1875,
180-595: A memorial dedicated to the three hundred Batswana who were killed from 1939 to 1945. Another monument pays tribute to the Botswana Defence Force soldiers who died in the Rhodesian Bush War . Chief Gaborone Gaborone (c. 1825 – 1931) was a kgosi (King) of the Tlokwa , a tribe of the larger Tswana people in what is now Botswana . He became the tribe's King around 1880, after
240-505: A modern city. Buildings in early Gaborone include assembly buildings, government offices, a power station, a hospital, schools, a radio station, a telephone exchange, police stations, a post office, and more than 1,000 houses. Because the town was built so quickly, there was a massive influx of labourers who had built illegal settlements on the new city's southern industrial development zone. These settlements were named Naledi. The latter term literally means "the star", but could also mean "under
300-572: A playground for children to play on throughout the day, a community organic garden, a recycling drop-off center, and a shop where visitors can purchase products made of recycled material. Gaborone is controlled by the Gaborone City Council , the wealthiest council in Botswana. It is composed of 35 councillors representing the wards of Gaborone. The Townships Act mandates the structure of local governments in Botswana. Because Botswana
360-508: A railway by the British South Africa Company (BSAC). The land surrendered included Tlokweng. Rather than see their aging chief lose his land, the rest of the tribe determined that they would instead rent the land from the company until his death, at a rate of £ 150 per year. The company agreed that "the old chief should not be disturbed in his lifetime". Gaborone eventually died in 1931, at the estimated age of 106. He
420-713: A significant community of ethnic Serbs in the city, there are also two Serbian Orthodox churches within Gaborone; the St. Nicholas Church and the St. Sava Church. The National Museum and Art Gallery is located just northwest of the Mall along Independence Road. The museum opened in 1968. It holds many things from traditional crafts to works of art by local artists. The museum houses original paintings by Thomas Baines and Lucas Sithole . Exhibits include Artists in Botswana , Children's Art Competition and Thapong International . Outside
480-417: A unique style of architecture that allows the optimal amount of indirect sunlight to shine through the windows in order to accurately sort diamonds. A Diamond Technology Park was recently opened , this is as part of Botswana Government's vision for establishment of downstream diamond industry. Companies dealing in diamonds have established their local operations in the park. The Botswana Resource Conference
540-411: Is 246,325. There are 118,727 males and 127,598 females in the city. There are 58,476 households in Gaborone. In 2001, the average household size was 3.11 people. The city of Gaborone is home to over 10% of the population of Botswana. Almost half of Botswana citizens live within 100 kilometres (62 mi) of Gaborone. The population growth rate of Gaborone is 3.4%, the highest in the country. This
600-430: Is a unitary state , the power of the local councils are delegated from the national level. The Ministry of Local Government, Land and Housing has a major influence in terms of personnel hiring and training, budgeting, and development planning. The city commission -style council is run by the city clerk and the deputy city clerk. The city is governed by the mayor, deputy mayor, and several committees run by councillors:
660-537: Is a low number compared to the rest of Botswana. Among places of worship , Christian churches and temples predominate. These include houses of worship affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Botswana ( Lutheran World Federation ), Assemblies of God , The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , International Pentecostal Holiness Church , Christ Embassy , Roman Catholic Diocese of Gaborone ( Catholic Church ). Accompanying
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#1732772729824720-541: Is a member-based environmental NGO housed inside an ecological park at the heart of Gaborone. The aim of the organization is to promote sustainable environmental protection by educating, demonstrating and encouraging best practices in environmental planning, resource conservation and waste management in Botswana. The park was officially opened by the Botswana Minister of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism, Onkokame kitso Mokaila on 27 February 2009. The park contains
780-466: Is also found here. Gaborone has a hot semi-arid climate ( Köppen climate classification BSh ). Most of the year, Gaborone is very sunny. The summers are usually hot. The nights are cool. Usually, the summers with little rainfall are warmer than summers with regular rainfall. If there is a drought, the hottest temperatures of the year are usually in January or February. If there is normal rainfall,
840-766: Is based in nearby Gabane ; all of them have played in the Botswana Premier League . The Botswana national football team plays in the National Stadium, but has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup , even though they recently qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations , held in Gabon in January 2012. The Botswana Cricket Association , the governing body of cricket in Botswana, is headquartered in Gaborone. There are two Ovals where cricket
900-412: Is growing very rapidly. In 1964, Gaborone only had 3,855 citizens; seven years later, the city had almost 18,000 residents. The city originally planned on 20,000 citizens, but by 1992, the city had 138,000 people. This has led to many squatter settlements on undeveloped land. Former mayor Veronica Lesole has stated that Gaborone's development problems were caused by the original city planners. Gaborone
960-539: Is held annually at the Gaborone International Conference Centre. The unemployment rate in Gaborone is 11.7% as of 2008 . 19.7% of the population in Gaborone is employed in the financial sector. According to Mercer 's 2011 Worldwide Cost of Living Survey , Gaborone has the 195th highest cost of living for expatriates in the world, up from 203rd in 2010. Gaborone comes between Chennai , India and Quito , Ecuador. Gaborone
1020-494: Is located a few hundred metres from the city. The hill is nicknamed the Sleeping Giant and is 1,287 metres (4,222 ft). There are three different paths to reach the top, usually taking two hours. The Mokolodi Nature Reserve is a 30-square-kilometre (12 sq mi) reserve that was created in 1994. It is located 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) south of Gaborone. There are many different species of animals found in
1080-529: Is most likely because the city has a more developed infrastructure, making it more livable. Gaborone is one of the fastest-growing cities in the world. Much of the growth is based on net in migration from the rest of Botswana. The sex ratio of Gaborone is 96.3, meaning that there are 963 men for every 1,000 women. Most of the marriages in Botswana are registered in Gaborone; about 15% of all marriages in Botswana were registered in Gaborone in 2007. On average, there are 3.3 persons per household in Gaborone. This
1140-481: Is on average one day per year with temperatures below 0 °C (32 °F). The average dew point peaks around January and February at 16 °C (61 °F) and hits the lowest levels in July at 2 °C (36 °F). The average dew point in a given year is 10 °C (50 °F). The record high temperature ever registered in Gaborone was 43.9 °C (111.0 °F). The lowest temperature registered in Gaborone
1200-641: Is played in the city. The Steinmetz Gaborone Marathon , the second marathon in Botswana, was held for the first time on 18 April 2010. The route started at the Phakalane Golf Estate in Phakalane, north of the city, and went through Gaborone, passing the National Assembly Building . The marathon, which was cancelled in 2011, has been held annually starting from 2012. The Gaborone Dam is located south of Gaborone along
1260-601: Is set in Gaborone. The books follow Precious Ramotswe , the first female private detective in Botswana, and the mysteries that she solves. The Detective Kubu series, by Michael Stanley (South African co-writers Michael Sears and Stanley Trollip), features Assistant Superintendent David 'Kubu' Bengu of the Botswana Police Service Criminal Investigation Department. Gaborone is the center of the national economy. The headquarters of important financial institutions such as
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#17327727298241320-554: Is situated at 24°39′29″S 25°54′44″E / 24.65806°S 25.91222°E / -24.65806; 25.91222 between Kgale and Oodi Hills, on the Notwane River in the south-eastern corner of Botswana, and 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from the South African border. The city lies at an elevation of 1,010 metres (3,310 ft) above sea level. Gaborone is surrounded by the following cities: Ramotswa to
1380-425: Is the capital and largest city of Botswana with a population of 246,325 based on the 2022 census, about 10% of the total population of Botswana. Its agglomeration is home to 534,842 inhabitants at the 2022 census . Gaborone is situated between Kgale Hill and Oodi Hill, near the confluence of the Notwane River and Segoditshane River in the south-eastern corner of Botswana, 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from
1440-588: Is the fourth least expensive city for expatriates in Africa, coming in above Addis Ababa , Ethiopia at 211th, Kampala , Uganda at 202nd and Windhoek , Namibia at 198th. There are several football stadiums located in and around Gaborone. These include SSKB Stadium , Mochudi Stadium , and Botswana National Stadium . There are also several football teams representing Gaborone, which include, amongst others, Botswana Defence Force XI , Gaborone United , Police XI , Township Rollers and Uniao Flamengo Santos FC , which
1500-494: Is the great grandson of Bogatsu. Upon Kgosi's death, Matlapeng was too young to succeed, and his older brother Lesage acted as chief in his place, subsequently leading the Tlokwa into an alliance with Sebetwane (the leader of the Makololo ). However, Basha (one of Matlapeng's other brothers) was dissatisfied with Lesage's leadership, and the Tlokwa split into two groups. The first, led by Lesage, travelled north with Sebetwane to
1560-806: Is the political centre of Botswana . Most government buildings are located west of the Main Mall in an area called the Government Enclave. The National Assembly of Botswana , the Ntlo ya Dikgosi , the National Archives , the Department of Taxes and Attorney General's Chambers Building , and the Ministry of Health. Near the entrance of the parliament building, there is a statue of Sir Seretse Khama , Botswana's first president as well as
1620-770: The BNF and leader of the Opposition between 1984 and 2003. In 2009 it was narrowly won by Kagiso Patrick Molatlhegi of the BDP and has since become in a marginal BDP seat. Molatlhegi was re-elected in 2014 and succeeded in 2019 by Dumezweni Mthimkhulu, also from the BDP. The urban constituency encompasses the following locations: Key: BNF BDP Gaborone Gaborone ( UK : / ˌ ɡ æ b ə ˈ r oʊ n i , ˌ h æ b -/ GAB -ə- ROH -nee, HAB - , US : / ˌ ɡ ɑː b ə ˈ r oʊ n i , - n eɪ / GAH -bə- ROH -nee, -nay , Tswana: [χabʊˈrʊnɛ] )
1680-528: The Bank of Botswana , Bank Gaborone , BancABC , and the Botswana Stock Exchange are centrally located, as well as the headquarters for Air Botswana , Consumer Watchdog , Botswana Telecommunications Corporation , and Debswana , the joint diamond mining venture between De Beers and the Botswana government. The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has its headquarters in Gaborone;
1740-479: The Notwane River for centuries. In more recent history, the Tlokwa left the Magaliesberg ranges to settle in the area around 1880, and called the settlement Moshaweng . The word "Gaborone" literally means "it does not fit badly" or "it is not unbecoming". The city was then called "Gaberones" by early European colonizers. Gaberones, a shortening of "Gaborone's Village", was named after Chief Gaborone of
1800-703: The Zambezi River , while the second, led by Basha, travelled south to Letlhakeng (now located in Kweneng District ). Matlapeng sided with Basha, and Letlhakeng consequently became the birthplace of Gaborone, his first son. Matlapeng succeeded Basha as King of the Tlokwa in 1835, and moved the tribe's village to Lepalong. Fearing attacks from the Boers and the Matabele , they relocated two years later to Thaba Ntsho. However, they were soon subjected to
1860-483: The Gaborone-Lobatse road, and provides water for both Gaborone and Lobatse. The dam is the second biggest in Botswana, able to hold 141,400,000 cubic metres (184,900,000 cu yd ). It is also starting to be marketed as a recreational area. The northern end of the reservoir is planned to become an entertainment venue called The Waterfront . There is a yacht club , called Gaborone Yacht Club, also on
Gaborone South - Misplaced Pages Continue
1920-579: The Local Government Tax used to be the main source of income of the city council, but it was abolished. Today, the city council derives most of its revenue from property rates. City councillors feel that because of recurrent obligations, they have little room to institute new solutions. The city council has been criticised by the Botswana Association of Local Authorities for its closed elections and minimal authority. In 2010,
1980-514: The South African border. The city is served by the Sir Seretse Khama International Airport . It is an administrative district in its own right, but is the capital of the surrounding South-East District . Locals often refer to the city as GC or Motse-Mshate . The city of Gaborone is named after Chief Gaborone of the Tlokwa tribe, who once controlled land nearby. Because it had no tribal affiliation and
2040-567: The Tlokwa and the Kgatla combined to attack the Kwena at Molepolole , but were driven. Gaborone himself was responsible for rescue of the Kgatla chief, Lentswe , who had been abandoned by his fleeing tribesmen. Matlapeng died around 1880, and Gaborone, who was "already over sixty years of age", succeeded him as kgosi . Four years after his accession to the Kingdom, three of his brothers left
2100-547: The Tlokwa, whose home village (now called Tlokweng ) was across the river from the Government Camp, the name of the colonial government headquarters. The nickname, "GC", comes from the name "Government Camp". In 1890, Cecil John Rhodes picked Gaberones to house a colonial fort. The fort was where Rhodes planned the Jameson Raid . The city changed its name from Gaberones to Gaborone in 1969. The modern town
2160-457: The city on Limpopo Drive. The reserve was built in 1988 and is now the third-busiest in Botswana. Examples of animals in the park are impala , kudu , ostriches , wildebeest , zebras , gemsbok , bushbuck , springbok , duiker , common eland , and common warthogs . The park is a destination for birdwatching . Birds in the marshy section of the park include snake eagles , boubou , gallinule , kingfishers , and hornbills . Kgale Hill
2220-421: The city's construction, the chairman of Gaberones Township Authority, Geoffrey Cornish, likened the layout of the city to a "brandy glass" with the government offices in the base of the glass and businesses in the "mall", a strip of land extending from the base. Most of the early town was built within three years, as a small town designed to accommodate 20,000 people – only to later develop after independence into
2280-510: The council had problems with waste management: Frenic, the waste management company hired by the city, sued the Gaborone City Council for unpaid compensation. This has led to a buildup of uncollected garbage. Haskins Nkaigwa, mayor of Gaborone from 2011, has stressed the importance of more local autonomy. He advocates for a stronger city council with the power to determine budgets and hire and fire clerks and officers. Gaborone
2340-543: The country from Zimbabwe and South Africa during the 1980s. Gaborone is the political and economic capital of Botswana, home to its largest companies and the Botswana Stock Exchange . It is also serves as the headquarters of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The main spoken languages in the city include Setswana ( Tswana ), English , Kalanga , and Kgalagadi . Evidence shows that there have been inhabitants along
2400-486: The death of his father, and secured the Tlokwa's status as the "smallest independent tribal unit" in the Bechuanaland Protectorate . He gave his name to the city of Gaborone , Botswana's current capital. Gaborone's exact year of birth is unknown, but 1825 has been suggested as a likely date. His father was Matlapeng , who was the youngest of the four sons of Chief Kgosi, and his designated heir. He
2460-661: The eastern end of the Mall, one can find the Civic Centre along with the Pula Arch that commemorates Botswana's independence. The Botswana Stock Exchange , National Museum and Art Gallery , and the main campus of the University of Botswana also lie near the Main Mall. To the west of the Main Mall is the Government Enclave. This area contains the governmental buildings such as the National Assembly of Botswana and Ntlo ya Dikgosi buildings. The National Archives building
Gaborone South - Misplaced Pages Continue
2520-558: The eleventh British dependency in Africa to become independent. The first mayor of Gaborone was Reverend Derek Jones . The old Gaberones became a suburb of the new Gaborone, and is now known as "the Village". In the mid-1980s, South Africa attacked Botswana and conducted raids on Gaborone and other border towns. The Raid on Gaborone resulted in twelve deaths. After the 1994 General Elections , riots started in Gaborone because of high unemployment and other issues. Today, Gaborone
2580-498: The financial and general purposes committee; the public health, social welfare and housing committee; the Self-Help Housing Agency (SHAA) management committee; the town planning committee; the trade licensing committee; and the education committee. The councillors elect the mayor in a first-past-the-post system and place each other in the committees yearly. The council has 2,515 employees. An income tax called
2640-485: The hottest temperatures are usually in October, right before the rain starts. During the winter, days are still warm, and the nights are cold. There are on average seventy-four days per year with temperatures above 32 °C (90 °F). There are on average 196 days per year with temperatures above 26 °C (79 °F). There are on average fifty-one days per year with temperatures below 7 °C (45 °F). There
2700-574: The lowest is in September at 28%. Solar irradiance ranges from 4.1 kWh m d in June to 7.3 kWh m d in December. It is windier from September to November at 14 km/h (8.7 mph), and it is calmer from May to August at 8 km/h (5.0 mph). The average wind speed in a given year is 12 km/h (7.5 mph). The population, based on the 2022 census,
2760-601: The museum, there are various forms of transportation such as wagons, sledges, and bakkies ( pickup trucks ). There is also an exhibit on the San , the earliest inhabitants of southern Africa. The museum opened a 3.6-hectare (9-acre) botanical garden called the National Botanical Garden on 2 November 2007. The garden was built to protect Botswana's indigenous plant life, and 90% of its total plant species are native plants from Botswana. The Maitisong Festival
2820-502: The northern side of the lake. The southern end houses the Kalahari Fishing Club and a new public facility called City Scapes. City Scapes contains parks, playgrounds, and boating facilities. The dam is popular with birdwatchers , windsurfers , and anglers . However, there is no swimming due to the presence of crocodiles and parasitic bilharzias . The Gaborone Game Reserve is a 600-hectare (1,500-acre) park east of
2880-575: The open sky" or "a community that stands out from all others". In 1971, because of the growth of illegal settlements, the Gaborone Town Council and the Ministry of Local Government and Lands surveyed an area called Bontleng, which would contain low-income housing. However, Naledi still grew, and the demand for housing was greater than ever. In 1973, the Botswana Housing Corporation (BHC) built a "New Naledi" across
2940-442: The organization was formed in 1980 to increase economic cooperation among its members and reduce dependence on South Africa. Several international companies have invested in the city: Hyundai , SABMiller , Daewoo , Volvo , and Siemens . Orapa House, owned by Debswana , is where the diamonds mined from Debswana are sorted and valued. Orapa House is located at the intersection of Khama Crescent and Nelson Mandela Drive. It has
3000-494: The park such as common warthogs , steenbok , kudu , zebras , giraffes , common eland , ostriches , hippos and rhinos . The park helps with wildlife projects in Botswana that include: the reintroduction of the white rhino and the relocation of "problem" cheetahs . Mokolodi also holds the Education Centre, which teaches children about the conservation projects. Somarelang Tikologo (Environment Watch Botswana)
3060-413: The road from the "Old Naledi". Residents from Old Naledi would be moved to New Naledi. However, the demand for housing increased yet again; moreover, the residents who relocated to New Naledi disliked the houses. The problem was solved in 1975 when Sir Seretse Khama , the president of Botswana, rezoned Naledi from an industrial zone to a low-income housing area. On 30 September 1966, Bechuanaland became
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#17327727298243120-403: The southwest, Mogoditshane to the northwest, and Mochudi to the east, and Tlokweng across the river. Most of them are commuter towns for Gaborone. Suburbs in Gaborone include Broadhurst, Gaborone West, The Village, Naledi. Phakalane , an affluent suburb, lies about 13 km north of the city center. In the centre of the city lies the Main Mall which houses many diplomatic missions. At
3180-516: The tribe to make their own ways in the world, although this was not an unusual occurrence amongst the Tswana . Around the same time as his brothers left, Gaborone moved the tribe to what is now called Tlokweng , on the Notwane River . That land fell within the nominal territory of the Kwena, but Gaborone erased the previous ill-will between the tribes by sending Setshele a gift of money and cattle. "I'm sorry to say that old Chief Gaborone has died – he
3240-523: Was a wonderfully picturesque figure. 110 years old, and a splendid type of the dignified courteous chief of old times before they were spoilt by European customs and clothes and education and all that rot." – Reniera Cloete Stanley in November 1931, upon hearing of Gaborone's death In 1895, Setshele's successor, Sebele , surrendered a strip of his land to the British, to be used for the construction of
3300-487: Was close to fresh water, the city was planned to be the capital in the mid-1960s when the Bechuanaland Protectorate became an independent nation. The centre of the city is a long strip of commercial businesses, called "Main Mall" with a semicircle-shaped area of government offices to its east. Gaborone was once one of the fastest-growing cities in the world, and this has created problems with housing and illegal settlements. The city has also dealt with conflicts spilling into
3360-468: Was deemed too limited, and instead, a new capital city would be created next to Gaberones. The city was chosen because of its proximity to a fresh water source, its proximity to the railway to Pretoria , its central location among the central tribes, and its lack of association with those surrounding tribes. The city was planned under Garden city principles with numerous pedestrian walkways and open spaces. Building of Gaborone started in mid-1964. During
3420-413: Was only founded in 1964, after a decision was taken to establish a capital for Botswana, which became a self governing territory in 1965, before becoming a fully independent republic on 30 September 1966. In 1965, the capital of the Bechuanaland Protectorate moved from Mafeking to Gaberones. When Botswana gained its independence, Lobatse was the first choice as the nation's capital. However, Lobatse
3480-620: Was started in 1987 and is held every year for seven days on either the last week of March or the first week of April. The festival holds outdoor concerts, plays, and films in various venues around the city. "My African Dream" was a performing-arts competition during the 2000s that was held every year at the Gaborone International Convention Center. The show featured many kwaito dancers and musicians. The book series The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency , written by Scottish author Alexander McCall Smith ,
3540-557: Was succeeded by his grandson, his eldest son having predeceased him. After Gaborone's death, the Bechuanaland Protectorate negotiated the return of the Tlokwa land from the BSAC, and created the Batlokwa Reserve. From the 1890s, Tlokweng had become known to British settlers as simply "Gaborone's Village", and the area on the opposite (western) bank to Tlokweng was given the name "Gaborone's Block". The name subsequently spread to
3600-605: Was −6.5 °C (20.3 °F). Precipitation in Gaborone is scanty and erratic. Most of the rainfall in Gaborone falls during the summer months, between October and April. There are on average forty days of thunderstorms per year, most of them happening during the summer months, and four days of fog, usually happening during the winter months. Gaborone has been affected by three floods based on records going back to 1995, one in 2000, one in 2001 that caused an estimated 5,000,000 Botswana pula worth of damage, and one in 2006. The highest relative humidity occurs in June at 90% while
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