Zambia World Wide

EARLY DAYS OF BOTSWANA

Botswana history

For approximately eighty years until its independence on the 30^th Sept. 1966 Botswana was a British Protectorate. It was then known as “Bechuanaland”. The British intervention was to stop the hostilities between the Twanas and the Ndebele.

The section between the Ramaquabane River and the Shasi River to where it met the Tati River was declared “No Mans” land. The Ramaquabana River forms the boundary between Zimbabwe and Botswana.

The Tati Company later received the right to use the land. They in turn would rent out farms in the area for virtually nothing on condition the farmer was prepared to erect and pay half of the fencing materials.

Botswana between 1967 and 1973

In April 1967 we arrived at Francistown Botswana to start my employment with Botswana Government. As this was 6 months after obtaining its Independence we could consider ourselves as its pioneers. It must be remembered that when Botswana got its Independence in 1966 it was regarded as one of the poorest countries. Its population was around the half million with most of its citizens living in towns situated close to the railway track. The rest of Botswana which is mainly desert was left to the minority of its citizens leaving mother nature very much in control.

My initiation to Botswana

With my arrival to Botswana I had to undergo a medical examination. I was told that one of the doctors was a woman. Having a woman examining a male patient was unheard of and to crown it all she was black. I went to Louis Koekemoer who then was the Post Master and he told me that the woman doctor was Moeti. Armed with this information I went to the hospital to make my appointment. I asked the nurse on duty when Dr Moeti was on duty. When she told me I told her that I would not be available on those days and that she must make an appointment for me to see the other doctor. Come the day I froze in my tracks as there behind the desk sat the lady doctor. There was no turning back. When it came to the time that I had to cough it was without doubt one of my most embarrassing moments. Yes she was Dr Moeti but she practiced under her maiden name Mashalaba

I soon learnt to respect her as a doctor. We spent many a night together playing bridge or socializing at the golf club. Simon her husband would go out of his way to arouse an interest in bridge.