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65-472: WUC may refer to: Water Utilities Corporation (Botswana) , a government-owned corporation that provides water and waste water management services in Botswana. World Universities Congress 2010 World Uyghur Congress WWE Universal Championship Topics referred to by the same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with

130-505: 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

195-516: 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

260-713: 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

325-409: A study to rationalise the water sector in Botswana in order ensuring uniform service levels by the government. Botswana 's water policy is based on the 1991 Botswana National Water Master Plan (NWMP), with recommendations for reform made in a 2006 review. The NWMP covers water resource monitoring and management, and water project feasibility studies and implementation. A Water Sector Reforms Project

390-417: 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

455-411: 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

520-430: 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:

585-537: 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

650-541: 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

715-466: 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,

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780-766: 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

845-537: Is being undertaken in 2008-2013. Within the terms of this project, the Water Resources Council advises the Minister of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources, monitors and allocates water resources between users, and develops policy for managing water resources. The Department of Water Affairs ensures that sufficient water is available from sustainable sources to meet the needs of the economy. The WUC

910-609: Is economically self-sufficient, raising enough revenue from billing and subsidies to cover operational costs, investments and debt servicing. When compared to other utilities in sub-Saharan Africa, the WUC is extremely efficient in revenue management. The WUC is administratively divided into the South region based in Gaborone with Management Centers servicing Gaborone, Mochudi , Lobatse , Molepolole , Kanye , Gantsi and Tshabong ; and

975-412: 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

1040-539: 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

1105-494: 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

1170-529: 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

1235-512: Is no incentive to these users to curb their use of water. Other flaws in the rate structure also discourage the most efficient use of the scarce water resource. Starting in 1992, the WUC has been piping water to every city plot in Gaborone, taking responsibility for installation and for billing and collection charges. The Gaborone City Council (GCC) was providing free water via standpipes in Self Help Housing Areas, while paying

1300-481: 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

1365-641: 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

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1430-488: Is responsible for delivery of water and wastewater services country-wide. Local kgotla community meetings resolve water-related disputes. The WUC was established in 1970 to manage a water supply and distribution project in the Shashe Development Area. Today the WUC provides water to the cities of Gaborone and Francistown and the towns of Lobatse , Jwaneng , Selebi-Phikwe and Sowa . The WUC

1495-601: 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

1560-554: 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

1625-425: 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

1690-588: 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

1755-806: 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

1820-528: 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;

1885-531: 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

1950-538: The Department of Water Affairs to WUC, and to transfer waste water management from the District Councils to the WUC. The NWMP is over twenty years old, and needs review. Transboundary water management is not covered by a formal policy framework in Botswana, although Botswana has ratified international agreements on management of transboundary rivers. Given the importance of transboundary river basins in

2015-460: The Department of Water Affairs. The Department of Water Affairs arranges distribution of this water and water from its own sources such as well fields to seventeen major villages. About half of the water delivered to the major villages comes from the WUC. District Councils supply water to more than 200 smaller villages. Some water users arrange their own supplies of water. As of 2012, there were plans to transfer responsibility for water supply from

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2080-483: 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

2145-579: 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,

2210-630: The North region based in Francistown with Management Centers servicing Francistown, Mahalapye , Palapye , Serowe , Selebi Phikwe , Masunga , Maun and Kasane . In June 2007, the WUC opened a contact center with a toll-free number to handle customer inquiries. The WUC's assets include the Gaborone , Nnywane , Bokaa , Shashe and Letsibogo dams, the 360 kilometres (220 mi) long North South Carrier Scheme pipeline, water treatment plants, pump stations and other equipment. Taken together,

2275-514: 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

2340-600: 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

2405-553: The WUC for the water. In the late 2000s the GCC began removing the standpipes so as to reduce costs, causing serious problems to the many people who could not afford to pay the WUC for on-plot connections. Citations Sources 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] )

2470-531: The WUC's economic model. The WUC earns money from selling water, so does not have an incentive to conserve the resource. Prices and subsidies are automatically set to cover costs, removing the incentive to contain cost and minimize leaks. Many of the WUC's main customers are government-funded, and can pass on their water costs to the taxpayer. Subsidies are expected to remain over 30% of cost until 2019. Coupled with use of inefficient private subcontractors for maintenance who get pay for work done rather than for results,

2535-457: 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

2600-421: 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

2665-510: 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

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2730-543: 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

2795-728: The country, improvements to international coordination are urgently needed. Rainfall is unreliable in Botswana, and dry spells may last for several years. At the same time, growing prosperity is increasing demand for water to fill swimming pools, wash cars and water gardens. In 2004, there was a drought. Water in the Gaborone Dam fell to 27% of capacity, and the government was forced to impose and enforce extremely harsh restrictions on use of water. The WUC charges are based on monthly usage and aim to recover production and transport costs. They are reduced by subsidies that favor rural users and low-volume users. There are perverse incentives in

2860-532: The dams have storage capacity of 346,900,000 cubic metres (1.225 × 10  cu ft). The WUC also imports some water from the Molatedi Dam in South Africa. The reservoirs contain 90% of total capacity in Botswana. More water is lost from the reservoirs through evaporation than through consumption, and this is expected to increase due to global climate change. The WUC supplies bulk treated water to

2925-728: 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

2990-558: 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

3055-498: 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

3120-485: 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

3185-574: 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,

3250-601: 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

3315-502: 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

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3380-575: 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

3445-442: 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

3510-494: 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)

3575-427: The result is a highly uneconomic water supply. Due to the scarcity of water, costs are rising while the government plans to reduce subsidies. Prices will therefore rise, which should help reduce demand. Subsidies will have to be adjusted to assist the most needy. Standpipes are the main source of water in low-income areas, and water from the standpipes is either free or covered by a flat monthly service rate, so there

3640-413: 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

3705-403: 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

3770-418: The supply of bulk water to the then Department of Water Affairs and various Local Authorities for onward distribution to villages and settlements. Between 2009 and 2013, the water sector was restructured. The Corporation was given a new mandate to supply potable water to all urban centres and villages across the country and manage wastewater and sanitation services. These Water Sector Reforms (WSR) resulted from

3835-491: The title WUC . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=WUC&oldid=1248725557 " Category : Disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Water Utilities Corporation (Botswana) Water Utilities Corporation

3900-565: 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

3965-468: 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

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4030-428: Was established in 1970 by an Act of Parliament (Cap 74:02). During its establishment, it managed a single project: the supply and distribution of water in what was then called the Shashe Development Area. The Government of Botswana expanded this mandate to include planning, construction, operation, treatment, maintenance, and distribution of water resources in the country’s urban centres and other areas. It also involved

4095-413: 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

4160-620: 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 ,

4225-605: 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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