Botswana’s Capital City Gaborone, recently celebrated 25 years of her existence as a City since July 1,1986  declaration by the Republic’s former President Ketumile Masire.

Dignitaries and ordinary citizens thronged the University of Botswana Stadium to celebrate the success of a jewel that sprung off a grazing land.

Speaking at the occasion the Gaborone City Mayor Haskins Nkaigwa highlighted that the city which was built from scratch has now developed into an international business centre and host to the diamond and innovation hubs.

Nkaigwa reminded the people at UB Stadium that when Gaborone was declared a city in 1986 there was only one traffic light at the Main Mall.

“Unemployment remains the biggest challenge in the city. The migration of people from rural areas to Gaborone is one of the biggest problems that need to be urgently addressed. The influx of people looking for jobs has a direct bearing on the high level of c rime, shortage of accommodation and high traffic,” he said.

The Mayor further said for the country to achieve her economic transformation there should be a deliberate effort to embark on a private sector development path.

A Barclays Bank representative Calistus Chijoro also shared the same sentiments with regard to the role of the private sector in driving the economy of Gaborone and indeed of the rest of the country.

Barclays opened its first branch in Gaborone at the main mall in 1966: “And with a population of 5000 there was no serious business, but opening a branch was a vote of confidence on the part of the bank,” he said.

Giving a keynote address Minister of Local Government Peter Siele said the visionary leadership of Batlokwa leader Kgosi Gaborone should be commended. Kgosi agreed to give part of his Morafhe’s grazing land for the establishment of the City and it was named after him in recognition of his contribution.

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