Lobatse (E 7)

Name: Lobatse

Lobatse is a town in South-Eastern Botswana, 70 kilometres south of the capital Gaborone, situated in a valley running north towards Gaborone. Lobatse has a population of 29,700 (Central Statistics Office, 2002).

History
The Bakgwateng people were the first to settle in the area, which was later occupied by the Bangwaketse people in the 18th century. Archaeological remains still exist from these periods.

Until independence in 1966, Botswana was the British Protectorate of Bechuanaland, which had the unique problem in that it was the only country in the world where the capital was outside the borders of the country. Mafikeng, South Africa was then the capital, upon independence the new capital was either to be Lobatse or Gaborone. Gaborone was selected as the seat of the government, while Lobatse was selected as the seat of the judicial system.

Lobatse has the distinction of having the first tarmac road in Botswana, which was laid in 1958. At independence on 30 September 1966, this 5 km-long section was the only tarred road in the entire country.

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