City Tourism unveils Gaborone's rich history

Nnasaretha Kgamanyane | Tuesday September 9, 2025 16:11

Recently, the Ministry of Environment and Tourism launched the City Tourism, where a number of attendees got an opportunity to do the tour and appreciate the history behind a number of places. The tour guides who were trained by the Botswana Society for the Deaf were brilliant enough to get tourists for the day intrigued by Gaborone's rich history as the first city with many firsts. Apparently, the tour has been done since 2012.

The guide assigned for the media on the day, Kesego Seji, eloquently related the history of many buildings, even the ones that people tend to overlook daily. Just the National Museum on its own is one of the iconic and treasured places in the capital city, located just a stone's throw away from Gaborone Senior Secondary School, the first senior secondary school in the country. The other destination was Princess Marina Hospital (PMH), the very first government medical facility.

Opposite PMH is extension 10, the first suburbs of the capital city with the first houses that were built for civil servants, and the far corner, by what is famed as the University of Botswana roundabout, is a mosque. The guide stated that Botswana is a multi-religious country, and although Christianity is dominant, Muslims also live in harmony with the Christians and contribute immensely to the growth of the country.

Not far is the country's first stadium, which used to be considered the biggest in the country, accommodating about 20,000 people. Next to the stadium is the University of Botswana, which also possesses a very rich history of having been owned by Botswana, Lesotho, and the then Swaziland. As years passed by, Lesotho left and Botswana and Eswatini continued with their partnership until the two decided to build their own universities. Botswana came up with the Motho le Motho kgomo initiative, which helped build the school. Batswana united, and each family donated a cow for the tertiary institution to be built.

Ahead lies Village, a part of Gaborone also possessing a very rich history. There is a cemetery where only the white people were buried, and according to Seji, the missionaries built houses at Village, and they were given the peace of land by the Batlokwa Kgosi Gaborone the first. Still at the village, there is the Thapong Art Exhibition where local artists and other creatives showcase their works. The place still retains the missionary houses, making it extraordinary.

From Thapong, the tour passed a few more destinations before proceeding to Old Naledi, the very first township in the city, which now prides itself on so many developments. The building structures are great, clean roads, with water and electricity. Even though Naledi, also formally known as Ditakana or Zola, is the oldest township, it is clear that the government has done a lot for the residents who also still hold dearly into their culture of love. To date, residents live in solidarity and are said to help one another when need arises.

In the heart of old Naledi lies the Mafitlhakgosi Restaurant owned by the Mafitlhakgosi Cultural Group. The restaurant displays not only the authentic Kasi feeling but also art. According to its founder, Mafitlhakgosi Restaurant not only caters tasty indigenous food but also treats tourists to a beautiful traditional song and dance entertainment. After the warm and beautiful performances from the group, tourists proceeded to the Botswana Telecommunications Museum, which displays different types of telephones from the oldest models to the current ones, and there is a story behind each one of them.

Ahead lies the local first and oldest bus rank, a stone's throw away from the CBD. There is also the Three Dikgodi Monument that tells a history of the three local Chiefs who petitioned against the then Bechuanaland from being placed under the British South Africa's company, under Cecil Rhodes, in November 1895, when the three Dikgosi were invited to London.

The tour proceeded to the National Assembly, and the tour guides narrated the story behind its building with some anecdotes. Also famed as Parliament, there is a huge bronze statue of the late former President Sir Seretse Khama, who married a British lady, Ruth Khama, and started his family in London, where he studied law and later relocated to Botswana. He then became the President and provided a home for political refugees.

The statue was brought to Botswana during the country's 20th anniversary. Still at the Parliament, is the pioneer's monument where 2000 men fought during World War II. The beauty of tourism is that it is ideal for everyone. It also includes the Bonnington Silos in Block 5 and tells the history behind the first ever Hotel there.