Gabs goes into hiding on Independence Day

Staff Writer | Monday October 4, 2010 00:00

The capital city of Botswana literally went into hiding on Independence Day.

No special activities or events were held, while the majority of city dwellers, possibly for fear of the anticipated boredom, also seemed to have left for some livelier activities elsewhere.

The streets of Gaborone, on the eve and on the day itself, were almost free of traffic; it was as if a curfew was in force.

By 10pm on Independence Day, various drinking holes were raided by the police to ensure that no bar operated beyond that time. Leading entertainment joints reported that business was at its lowest during the Independence holidays.

At Main Mall joint, Cafe Khwest’s Odirile Neo says the Independence holiday hit them hard as the majority of their clients had gone away. “Business was extremely low here,” he says.

Gaborone’s oldest entertainment venue, The Bull & Bush, also says it was “very quiet” during the Independence holidays. The manager, Aisha Zeezuddeen, says only few foreigners came by but no Batswana at all! “People had simply gone away,” he says. “But things are starting to get back to normal now.”

At Riverwalk, the Linga Longa bar and restaurant reported moderate business. Though they did not register a boom, Boitumelo Molefhi says she cannot complain much.

However, News Cafe says business took a nosedive from Wednesday last week until Saturday when signs of life started showing again. At the Fashion Lounge, a premier nightclub in the city, they also reported poor business during the Independence holidays, largely because of limited operating hours and the fact that people had vacated the city.

Nightclubs Zoom at Maruapula and Satchmos in G-West were also affected by the limited operating hours of Independence holidays. Infact, The Monitor team saw first hand as hundreds of night crawlers thirsty for entertainment were shepherded out of the clubs by the police at as early as 10.30pm on Independence Day.

However, G-West and Maruapula’s midnight shebeen queens must be very happy with their profits as they sold from the boot of their cars to thirsty patrons after the police had closed licensed venues.