The kgotla in Mmopane...

This is the kgotla (like a town hall) in Mmopane where the kgosi (the village chief) conducts his business. This is where all disputes are settled - property disputes, marital disputes, renter/tenant disputes,... everything. The stone square on the left is the kraal (cattle pen) where any animals involved in those disputes are kept until the conflict is resolved. About two weeks after we moved here the town mysteriously started to be cleaned up and those white rocks on the left were laid out in decorative patterns in front of the kgotla. Less than six months ago Botswana installed a new president, Ian Khama, and he has been visting each town and village in the country to hear their concerns. The village was being readied for his visit later that week. We weren't able to make it to the kgotla for President Khama's visit but we heard afterward that he stayed for almost three hours, listening to people and responding. One frequent concern was the lack of water pressure here in Mmopane. President Khama promised to have that issue addressed and now, only a month later, I have seen work crews out digging up the old piping.