Our Heritage by Sandy Grant
Sandy Grant | Wednesday March 12, 2014 15:17
But when road systems change there may be little to suggest what had previously existed. Modern Gaborone, indeed modern Botswana, offers numerous examples of earlier road systems that have simply disappeared. What happened to the old Missionaries Road or even long stretches of the old north-south road?
Where have they gone? Knowing that the old north-south road tended to follow the railway line there must be people who now wonder what happened to it? Usually a photo of this kind is of very little long term interest but in this instance, it is something of a key document.
The sign was situated close to Angamia’s Garage where the old road, as indicated on the sign, took a sharp turn to the north. It also indicates that to reach the Molepolole road it was necessary to travel a short distance along the main road and then turn west across the railway line.
The distances given are in miles. For those who possess a map of modern Gaborone, or those who can imagine the scene, it is easy to trace the route of the old road by drawing a straight line northwards from the old demolished Gaborone Hotel, on the eastern side of the railway line - the original, historical station was on the west - or from Angamia’s Garage.
Most of the old road has disappeared under modern housing but one stretch has just about survived - and this passes by the Bull and Bush and continues onwards to Broadhurst and on to Block 3 railway crossing, pushes onwards past the Botswana Book Centre warehouse and Taurus and then hits more housing and fizzles out.