Gaborone

Gaborone is the capital and largest city of Botswana, located in the south-eastern part of the country near the border with South Africa. The city serves as the administrative, economic and political centre of Botswana, housing the national government, Parliament and the headquarters of major state-owned enterprises and private companies. Gaborone has a population of approximately 230 000 people, making it the most populous urban centre in the country. The city's economy is driven by government services, diamond trading, financial services and a growing technology sector. Gaborone is home to the headquarters of several major mining companies and serves as a hub for Botswana's diamond industry, which remains the backbone of the national economy. The city also hosts regional offices for international organisations and is increasingly positioning itself as a centre for renewable energy development and investment in southern Africa. Infrastructure includes Sir Seretse Khama International Airport, which connects Botswana to regional and international destinations. Gaborone was established in 1964, shortly before Botswana's independence in 1966, and was purpose-built to replace Mafeking (now Mahikeng, South Africa) as the capital of the then-Bechuanaland Protectorate.