Moshupa
Moshupa is a large village in the Southern District of Botswana with a population of 20,016 per the 2011 census. The people of Moshupa are called the Bakgatla-ba-ga Mmanaana, a group also found in Thamaga. Along with the related Bakgatla-ba-ga Kgafela of Mochudi, they arrived to the region from the Transvaal region in South Africa throughout the eighteenth century. Moshupa is characterised by unique and gigantic mountain outcrops which often leave visitors in wonder. The giant rocks (some up to 40 metres in radius) are so balanced on top of each other that even the villagers themselves wonder why they do not fall. They are believed to fall only when the village chief is dying, as an omen. The chief (kgosi) of Moshupa is Kgosi Kgabosetso Mosielele. The chief currently serves in the Customary Court of appeal and his brother, Kgosi Oscar Mosielele is the current chief of the village on his behalf. As is customary in Botswana the salutation 'kgosi' is the title used before the chiefs name. Geography There are three seasonal rivers crossing Moshupa, the Mosope, Hatshelatladi (Gatsalatladi), and Monnaamme, and Kolwane further in the north. The Mosope River is legended as the host of a Serpent (Festas the destroyer),that causes hail and, and the great big African giant named Matizo (se jaa banyana) . The villagers avoid crossing the Mosope River, particularly at night where the river joins the Phuting/Kgosing hills for fear of Serpent and Vizzy the ghost of a tormenting ancient king that haunts. This place, called Lefikeng, or just 'Hikeng' has a large rock outcrop curiously balanced upon the river banks with a perennial pond underneath it. Although villagers avoid this place, visitors venture there, especially white tourists or Peace Corps volunteers, giving rise to the local belief that the 'Serpent' turns into a double headed legendary snake believed to be highly mysterious. Infrastructure There are six primary schools, three junior secondary schools, and a senior secondary(Moshupa senior secondary school) in Moshupa. In addition there are a few day-care centers and an orphanage. A vocational training center (Moshupa Brigade) offers trade, business, and secretarial courses with some evening classes. Moshupa also has council administration offices to the north, headed by Sub-council Chairman on the political side and a Senior Assistant Council Secretary on the administrative side. The health system consists of three clinics with full-time nurses and visiting physicians to handle childbirth and short time inpatients. The clinic refers major cases to the Kanye hospital or the Thamaga Hospital. There is a hospital being built in Moshupa as of 2023 and might be open and functional by 2024. One of the latest additions to Moshupa has been a detention center for young offenders to the west. Demographics Moshupa is divided into wards or dikgotla, typical of Botswana villages. They are Kgosing, Nakedi, Phuting, Kgope, Maradung, Thupelo, Mmapholana, Mmaditswere, Nkaikela, Mmamohuhumedi, Rungwana, Modimele, Sau, Jerusalem (part of Phuting), Mokakaneng, Mogaung, Maunatlala, Dibotong, Mmaseetsele, Lepapeng, Ntle ga majwe, and other wards emerge with village growth.