Bechuanaland had all along been a British Protectorate from as far back as 1885.
Up to the eve of self-rule in 1965, the seat of government for the protectorate had been based in Mafikeng, now the capital of the North-West province of South Africa, which itself was born in 1994. The administrative capital of the current Botswana as we now know it, would only be moved to its present location in 1965. It was initially named Gaberones and later renamed Gaborone in 1969.
By then, there were only a few notable structures in early Gaborone that started to take root around the late '60s and early '70s. Key among these were the National Assembly (Parliament) and government offices around the Government Enclave, a power station that would be named Botswana Power Corporation (BPC), Princess Marina Hospital, schools like Camp Primary School by The Village suburb, Thornhill Primary School which derived its architecture from Lesedi Primary School and Gaborone Secondary School (GSS). The capital also had a radio station that was initially called Radio Bechuanaland and received assistance of wave transmission from the Mafikeng Veterinary and would later be renamed Radio Botswana also known as Seromamowa Sa Botswana (now RB1). There was also a telephone exchange firm called Botswana Telecommunications Corporation (BTC), Central Police Station (CPS), and Central Post Office buildings.
The very first and present day Gaborone’s Main Mall would only earnestly start developing in the early 1970s.
Following the first erection of structures such as the Pula Arch around the arcade that commemorated Botswana's Independence, the Civic Centre was notable and for a long time was known as Gaborone Town Hall, now the Gaborone City Council. In came the President Hotel, popularly known as PH, and it would not be long before the likes of Koh-I-Centre that housed the first American Embassy opposite Notwane Pharmacy was established. There was also Kollenberg Centre that had the Botswana Book Centre as one of its first tenants, Tswana House where the then popular Toy and Records store used to operate from, and Corner Supermarket where the legendary ‘little-person’ Antoni served as a security guard. The Main Mall also had Embassy Chambers that accommodated the famous hamburger, pin-ball and pac-man machines’ restaurant called Kings, as well as the iconic Capitol Cinema.
Only a few of those initial businesses from the early '70s have stood the test of time and one of them is Notwane Pharmacy. Mmegi recently took time to visit the enterprise and spoke to Martin Hunt, the current Managing Director.
Hunt happens to be the author’s contemporary and both are about to reach their mid-50s. The managing director is as old as the business that celebrated its golden jubilee last year.
Below he takes Mmegi along the history and background of Notwane Pharmarcy.
Mmegi - When was Notwane Pharmacy established? Hunt: The company was set up on the 17th October 1973.
Mmegi: Did the Notwane River have any bearing on the naming of your Pharmacy? And was it always called Notwane Pharmacy? Hunt: The founder was a British pharmacist, the late Brian Hunt, and yes, he would from inception name the pharmacy after the Notwane River. Mr. Hunt was my stepfather.
Mmegi: Has the company always operated from Gaborone’s Main Mall? Hunt: Yes, it has and is still the one and only store.
Mmegi: Has there been any modifications as in expansion or contraction to the store structure over the years? Hunt: In the beginning, the pharmacy was quarter of its current size. Next door used to be the American Embassy’s Library which the pharmacy took over in the 1980s.
Mmegi: What was the original staff contingent for the store compared to now? Hunt: The pharmacy started with only one worker. Today there are twenty employees.
Mmegi: What would you say has been the key to the growth of the company over the years? What has been its mainstay? Hunt: Firstly, our loyal customers, then our staff who are a very committed and trustworthy team.
Mmegi: Has it always been smooth-sailing and if not, what challenges, difficulties, problems, bad encounters, etc have you had to deal with along the company’s journey? Hunt: I don’t remember seeing a week where it all went smoothly, ever since I have been in the business. There are so many moving parts and factors in the pharmaceutical business environment.
There is always an obstacle to resolve or something to improve. Currently, the main problem is obtaining and maintaining stock and medication levels to service all the patients and customers. Nowadays, customers who can afford it are crossing the border where these are easily available and where there is more choice.
Lastly, being a single independent outlet competing against big pharmacy groups has its own challenges that we constantly have to maneuver.
Mmegi: What professionals have worked for your group over the years? Hunt: The only professionals that have worked for us are the pharmacists.
Mmegi: Has the business always been a strictly medical pharmacy and dispensary or you later ventured into other fields? Hunt: Medical pharmacy is our core business, but over the years we have ventured into related lines such as supplements and nutrition, fragrances and cosmetics.
Mmegi: Lastly, what is the company’s Vision, Mission and Values that, as a family business, you have maintained and upheld. Something you regard as having contributed to the success of the company? Hunt: I would say customer satisfaction has been the central most part of operation in order to accomplish our main goals.
