The city with many names
Friday, December 05, 2008
Depending on generations, other than the official name of Francistown, which was named after a gold miner, Daniel Francis in 1897, Francistown bears names such as Ghetto, Sthalala, Tafa,Toropo or whatever individual residents find suitable to them.
Francis was a director of the Tati Concessions Company, the pioneers of the now popular Tati Company or TC, which owns a chunk of land within the city and its environs.
Instead, it has sparked a storm of accusations, denials, and unresolved questions about the influence of De Beers on the nation’s politics. Former president Mokgweetsi Masisi’s claims that the diamond giants bankrolled his removal to dodge taxes – and that the new Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) government watered down a favourable diamond deal – are explosive matters. But without evidence, they risk becoming a toxic distraction from...