Orapa House

The first was the decision by the Office of the President NOT to take over the building and the other was the request by Gaositwe Chiepe to be photographed for the 50th anniversary ‘celebrities’ book with Orapa House as background. She made the request because, for her, the building is so remarkable and because she, as the relevant Minister at the time, had the luck to formally open it.

Orapa House is not only remarkable but it must be Gaborone’s most iconic building. To date, however, it has never really belonged to Gaborone because its role as a diamond centre has kept it very separate and very apart. But now there must be a chance that Gaborone can claim it and make it, for the first time, one of its key elements.