Palapye

Infobox Settlement
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image_caption = Palapye, looking towards Morupule power station, 1987


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subdivision_name1 = Botswana Central District
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latd=22 |latm=33 |lats= |latNS=S
longd=27 |longm=08 |longs= |longEW=E
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Palapye is a large town in Botswana, situated about halfway between Francistown and Gaborone. Over the years its position has made it a convenient stopover on one of Southern Africa's principal north–south rail and road routes. It also has a small airfield, as well as the Morupule Colliery coal mine, which supplies Morupule Power Station, Botswana's principal domestic source of electricity. The power station has undertaken an expansion project to increase its generation capacity in an effort to meet the country's increasing demand for electricity. Construction is propsed to begin in 2009.

In 1997 Palapye was said to be the fastest-growing village in Africa, with plans to expand its population from 30,000 to 180,000.

Development

Palapye is experiencing a wide variety of development. Plans are in the advanced stages to build the second University of Botswana in Palapye. Construction for this is expected to commence by early 2009.

Due to current black-outs across the country, resulting from South Africa's refusal to supply electricity to Botswana, construction of the campus has been further delayed. The current power shortages have also halted construction for further developments in the area, such as the expansion for the Morupule Power Station. Plans for a new hospital, similar to the newly constructed Serowe Hospital, have also been proposed.

An International Airport, that will be located on the Palapye-Serowe road, is another development that is being considered. Construction for this, if the plan goes through, shall commence, by late 2009. This will follow the expansion of the Sir Seretse Khama International Airport, which is the main international airport in Botswana.

Education

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There are also other Government High Schools. Lotsane Senior Secondary School is one of the main government schools in Palapye. It accommodates learners from Forms 1 to 5. It is one of the few boarding schools in the area.

Palapye also has a technical College.

Tourist Attractions

There are several well known tourist attractions close to Palapye. The Khama Rhino sanctuary is probably the best known and is 40km from Palapye. The Tswapong Hills also have many areas of historical significance and well as the Moremi Gorge. This is an area of great beauty as it has a permanent water source.

Some 20 km ESE of Palapye, close to the village of Malaka, are the remains of Phalatswe, also called Old Palapye, the capital of the Bamangwato people under Khama III from 1889 to 1902. [http://www.thuto.org/ubh/bw/oldp.htm]

Transport

In 2008, proposals were made to build a new Trans-Kalahari Railway to a port in Namibia.

External links

* http://www.palapye.com
* http://www.mcl.co.bw/
* http://www.ub.bw/
* http://www.kgaswe.com

References

* [http://www.fallingrain.com/world/BC/0/Palapye.html FallingRain Map - elevation = 919m (Red dots are railways)]