Village Becomes Capital City

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31327, 25 March 1967, Page 5

Village Becomes Capital City

(Specially written for "The Press" by KENNETH ANTHONY) Here is a stamp from a country which for many years was administered from a capital outside its own boundaries. Bechuanaland’s capital was Mafeking and Mafeking is situated in South Africa, just across the border. This curious state of affairs survived from the days when there were two Bechuanalands, each with its own stamps. One was British Bechuanaland, which first issued stamps in 1885 and was subsequently incorporated into the Cape of Good Hope, now part of South Africa. The other was Bechuanaland Protectorate, whose first stamps appeared in 1888, and which is today the independent republic of Botswana. Mafeking was in British Bechuanaland, but as a matter

of administrative convenience both territories were at first controlled from there. After British Bechuanaland lost its separate indentity in 1895. the arrangement continued for Bechuanaland Protectorate alone. While the protectorate remained a British High Commission territory, this raised no problems; but when plans were made for independence, something obviously had to be done about finding a new capital. Gaberones, previously little more than a village and less than 100 miles from Mafeking, was the site chosen. Work began in February, 1965, and by the end of the following

year most of the official buildings were complete. The progress made in turning Gaberones into a modern capital city is shown on the 2jc value of the independence commemoratives issued in September, 1966. This shows the handsome buildings erected to house the national assembly. A companion stamp in the s»t, the sc, shows the new abattoir at Lobatsi, which was started by the United Kingdom Commonwealth Development Corporation. This is not such a strange subject for a stamp as it might appear, for Botswana's main Industry is cattle rearing and the export of meat products.