On an almost weekly basis, the Gaborone International Convention Centre hosts high-profile international meetings and delegates from abroad who got their hands on Culture Smart!Botswana would not have been surprised to find that 'the general quality of business presentations is not very sophisticated.' The book forewarned them that 'the speaker will put up a slide and then carefully, word-for-word, read aloud to his audience exactly what they can read for themselves.'On the way to the GICC, some of those delegates would be hoping and praying that they don't encounter the homicidal driving of public transport operators. "Combi drivers are the masters of the unexpected: they may stop suddenly and without warning, overtake on the left, drive over pavements, cut across in front of another vehicle and commit any of the numerous violations," the book says.
Fact check: most people would be inclined to classify running red lights 'under any of the numerous violations' but the manner that these drivers relate to traffic lights strongly suggests that they are colour-blind. Therefore, this presumably unintentional offence would appear to be more of a health than legal problem.Mainly written for tourists, books in the Culture Smart! series provide 'essential information on attitudes, beliefs, and behaviour in different countries ensuring that you arrive at your destination aware of basic manners, common courtesies and sensitive issues.' The history buff will get as much joy out of reading these books as the culture vulture. This one is rich with historical detail as well. The author writes that when King George VI, Queen Elizabeth and their two daughters visited Bechuanaland protectorate in 1947, the programme required that the royal party travel from Lobatse railway station to the airport and it was not considered dignified for them to do so on anything other than the best road surface available: "Hence Lobatse gained what was for many years its only paved road!"
