Book review

| Friday April 23, 2010 00:00

Sheridan GriswoldPeta McAdam (2010) Dumela Gaborone. Gaborone, Errata Inc., Paperback edition, 88 pages, Contains four lined pages for notes and nine pages of advertisements. P95. ISBN 978-99912-0-902-9.  Available at Exclusive Books.

Dumela Gaborone the latest manual for the nation's capitol was launched on April 21 by Exclusive Books. It joins a growing number of books of various sizes that serve as guides to the city and the country (most guides to Botswana also have a section on Gaborone), and Botswana Telecommunications Corporations (BTC)'s 'Phone Book 2010' - a free 140 Yellow Pages, but that one is too big to carry around with you.

The interesting thing is how such books may complement each other. Dumela Gaborone occupies a niche that might benefit newcomers to Gaborone, both citizens moving to the big smoke from elsewhere in Botswana (an aspiration many seem to share), and to new arrivals from Southern Africa and elsewhere in the world coming to our fair city for the first time. The Botswana Tourism Board (BTB) has endorsed this small A5 pamphlet, saying that it 'will help you settle into Gaborone, to find the essential services and discover the hidden secrets'.

Dumela Gaborone is small enough that some private sector employers might buy it (even though it is pricey for what you get - only 70 pages of text) and send it to their new employees who are getting work and residence permits. The first two dozen pages are for newcomers and covers such topics as  'Welcome', 'Before and as you arrive', 'Crossing the Border' (a well-laid out four pages)-but some of the information already needs to be corrected on times, and the bias of the book is revealed here as only borders linking to South Africa are included, forgetting access to and from Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe, our other neighbours. A section on bringing animals into Botswana and their care will help the pet lovers. This is followed by 'A roof over your head', with information on renting or buying a home (what happened to Premier Properties?) and getting connected to electricity, water and acquiring essentials (where is Intrepid Steel?). Getting connected includes cell phones and Internet service providers (but no reference to wireless services offered by companies like OPQNet).  This section is then followed by 'Climbing the medical mountain'. Dentists are mentioned by name instead of by the clinics they belong to (as in the Yellow Pages) and in both there is only a sample of what is available. Finding a dentist may require your talking to others for their recommendations. The same would apply to other health professionals. As in most things this book should not be your only source of information - though it can help you to get started. Under 'support groups' there is no mention who to call if there are problems in the home, from Lifeline to Childline to the Kagisano Society - Women's Shelter Project (they have had clients from many other African countries, Europe, Asia, North and South America-domestic violence knows no boundaries).

The bias of this manual towards expatriate users is clear in the section 'Kids rule' where preschool, primary, secondary and tertiary institutions are considered. Here you will discover that the shorthand used in this pamphlet may short-change you. For example, it is stated on page 35 correctly that the UB library, a national institution, is open to the public, but no hours are mentioned and nothing about rules, regulations and requirements. Let us hope that in the next edition this and many other such oversights are included. In this section only one private tertiary institution is mentioned, though the Tertiary Education Council has now approved nearly a dozen-how to contact the TEC should be included. On music lessons newcomers are told to contact Maru a Pula School, while most old timers know that the list is maintained by both the Maitisong Centre (at MaP, but separate from it) with different contact numbers, and can also be found on the web of the Botswana Society for the Arts, or by contacting their office.

The next five pages 'On the road' contain information for drivers, potential drivers, and passengers. Again look out for misinformation. AB Cab is actually 'A to B Cab' and the phone number is wrong; it should end in a seven, not a six. A lot more could be said about InterCape buses and where they go, their requirements, including limitations on the use of credit cards (must belong to the traveller). That another, local bus company, T. J. Motlogelwa, leaves at more desirable hours to Johannesburg is not mentioned, or the art of travelling by minibuses.

Readers skimming this book will be amazed how much is available and happening in Gaborone. They will also be surprised, from their own experience, how much is left out.  Do we have to go to Phakalane to get fresh vegetables, or are there Ms Veg and Veg City in town too - not to mention all the Woolworths and Pick and Pays?

Bookstores transcend that of the BSPCA, and include Exclusive Books at Riverwalk and the older bookstores at the Main Mall and Game City, Book Centre and Botsalo Books. Something strange here? Malls: It is odd that the author has never discovered Nomatata shopping centre and many of the other smaller ones - just drive around town and you can't avoid running into them.

There is much more to the nation's capitol than to be found in this slim volume.

Restaurants: one of the best at the Gaborone Golf Club is not mentioned. The Abyssinia at Riverwalk, frequented recently by Mma Precious Ramotswe, goes unrecognised. 25 Degrees East remains closed, but when a book goes to print, there are closing dates, and such events cannot always be accommodated. If your are seeking souvenirs go to the Botswana Society's 'Mochudi Hut' at the National Museum and Art Gallery just east of the Main Mall.

While there you can get the best book on Gaborone, Alec Campbell's and Mike Main's 'Guide to Greater Gaborone'- now here is real value for your money.

The first thing a book like this needs is an index. If you have been told by a friend to go to Mukwa Interiors to buy a quality electric kettle and toaster that won't wear out in one year, you'll have to browse until page 52 only to find that they make furniture to order. But they also have a huge store of ready-made furniture and next door is the Apple Centre. While on those pages, Camphill now only sells their furniture at Otse and the numbers there start with 533. Their workmanship is worth looking for if you want to purchase locally made pine furniture and at the same time support a cause. There is more than one locksmith in Gaborone-reliable ones are Kenny's near the African Mall and Tim's near the Main Mall - if one is stuck out in a real emergency you'll want to be able to call another (have all of them in your cell phone, they are  to be found in the Yellow Pages). Also have ICE-in case of an emergency-for your doctor, etc, on your cell phone.

The information on Embassies does not follow protocol. Some are different, like Cuba is a full Embassy and others have honorary consuls - Ghana and Uganda for example. The Swedish Embassy is long gone, but there is now a Sweden House. Embassies and consulates are all usually closed on their national holidays, something a traveller needs to know to plan their trip effectively, as it may take longer then expected to get a visa. Botswana's Office of Foreign Affairs provides updated lists of embassies, high commissions and consulates. And so this slim volume needs to grow.

I'll look forward to the second edition with an index and more information on what is available. Meanwhile the author reminds you that Gaborone 'is a fluid community'. 'The pace is slow, the people are friendly and it truly is a beautiful country'.

E-mail: sheridangriswold@yahoo.com