The city is named after Kgosi Gaborone who was the chief who lead the Batlokwa tribe into the area in the 1880s. This tribe ended up settling in Tlokweng, which is the South African border post of Botswana) and the first urban area one sees when driving into Botswana from South Africa. In the 1890s, a colonial fort was built near Tlokweng, the remants of which now can be seen near the Village cinema.

However, when independence seemed in the horizon, the Bechuanaland needed a capital where the administrative tasks could preside, since Bechuanland’s former administrative center, Mafikeng, was outside of its borders. Thus, Gaborone was chosen due to its strategic location with an easily accessible railroad line, convenient water supply, and accessibility to many of the native tribes in the area.  In three years, the capital was built with assembly buildings, schools, telephone lines, stadium, and hospital. By September 30, 1966, which was Independence day, Gaborone was set and in place as the capital as Bechuanaland became the 11th British colony to become independent.  At the time of independence, Botswana was counted as one of the ten poorest nations on either. However, in 5 years, diamonds were discovered and Botswana quickly turned over to be one of the richest countries in Africa and one of the third largest producers of diamonds in the world. Today Gaborone is a bustling metropolis.  In 1998, several private radio stations were created and in 2000, the first television service, called Botswaa Television, was started.