Council accepts Block 7 name change to Peolwane.

Residents of Gaborone Block 7 have given Gaborone City Council (GCC) a deadline of September 30 to have changed their location name of Ditimamodimo to Peolwane.

The residents argue that the name Ditimamodimo was given without their consent and want a more attractive name to compete with the likes of Phakalane. So serious are the area dwellers that they even want the boards bearing the name Ditimamodimo uprooted and replaced with those carrying their preferred name.
However, Gaborone City Council’s Chief Physical Planner, Kaelo Masara said it would be impossible to have the name changed in the set time by the residents, even as they may have accepted the suggestion.

“We have adopted the name Peolwane but we should run the notice of change for 28 days so that everyone can raise their opinions, after which we will take it to the full council, which means changing names on the boards can be done after December,” he said. Masara said all the locations around Gaborone were named using Ward names from various villages around Botswana. He said Ditimamodimo is a ward name in Serowe.

During the meeting, BDP activist Kagiso Ntime, who is a resident of Block 7, pleaded with the council officials to make a special request to gazette their request before the end of this week so that it can be addressed in the current full council sitting. “We plead with you to make a special request so that this issue can be addressed as soon as possible. I know it is possible, if you are saying it is not, you are the problem, not the council system,” he said.

Another resident, Batsho Sengwaketse, said they want a name that will portray a positive image of Block 7.  “We cannot use a name from Serowe in Gaborone. We don’t even know the meaning of this name and we are not even of the Bangwato tribe. As for me, I will not sign Botswana Post boxes under that name,” he said.

Bishop Omphemetse Pele, who is a pastor at Good News Church, said the name brought back luck to the residents. “We want the name Peolwane to be mounted on the boards before September 30. Every time I approach church premises I get so furious because the boards written Ditimamodimo are on both sides of my church.

This name sends the wrong message to people who visit the church.” Member of Parliament for the area Duma Boko asked the council officials to be prompt in addressing the residents’ concerns.  “You need to address this issue as soon as possible because you never consulted them when naming the area, so you need to correct that. I will keep on coming to you from time to time,” he said.