Moshupa

{{Lead too long|date=July 2024}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}}  {{Infobox settlement |official_name = Moshupa |other_name = |native_name =  |nickname = |settlement_type = Village |motto = |image_skyline = |imagesize = |image_caption = |image_flag = |flag_size = |image_seal = |seal_size = |image_shield = |shield_size = |city_logo = |citylogo_size = |image_map = |mapsize = |map_caption = |image_map1 = |mapsize1 = |map_caption1 = |image_dot_map = |dot_mapsize = |dot_map_caption = |dot_x = |dot_y = |pushpin_map =Botswana  |pushpin_label_position =  |pushpin_map_caption = |pushpin_mapsize = |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = [[Botswana]] |subdivision_type1 = [[Districts of Botswana|District]] |subdivision_name1 = [[Southern District (Botswana)|Southern District]] |subdivision_type2 = |subdivision_name2 = |subdivision_type3 = |subdivision_name3 = |subdivision_type4 = |subdivision_name4 = |government_footnotes = |government_type = |leader_title = |leader_name = |leader_title1 =  |leader_name1 = |leader_title2 = |leader_name2 = |leader_title3 = |leader_name3 = |leader_title4 = |leader_name4 = |established_title = |established_date = |established_title2 =  |established_date2 = |established_title3 =  |established_date3 = |area_magnitude = |area_footnotes = |area_total_km2 =  |area_land_km2 =  |area_water_km2 = |area_total_sq_mi = |area_land_sq_mi = |area_water_sq_mi = |area_water_percent = |area_urban_km2 = |area_urban_sq_mi = |area_metro_km2 = |area_metro_sq_mi = |population_as_of = 2011 |population_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x=&men=gcis&lng=en&des=wg&geo=-42&srt=pnan&col=abcdefghinoq&msz=1500&pt=c&va=&srt=1pnan|title=2011 census|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130111114808/http://www.world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x=&men=gcis&lng=en&des=wg&geo=-42&srt=pnan&col=abcdefghinoq&msz=1500&pt=c&va=&srt=1pnan|archivedate=11 January 2013}}</ref> |population_note = |population_total = 19780 |population_density_km2 = |population_density_sq_mi = |population_metro = |population_density_metro_km2 = |population_density_metro_sq_mi = |population_urban = |population_density_urban_km2 = |population_density_urban_sq_mi = |population_blank1_title = |population_blank1 = |population_density_blank1_km2 = |population_density_blank1_sq_mi = |timezone = GMT +2 |utc_offset = |timezone_DST = |utc_offset_DST = |coordinates = {{coord|24|46|45|S|25|25|06|E|region:BW|display=inline,title}} |elevation_footnotes =  |elevation_m = 1141 |elevation_ft = |postal_code_type =  |postal_code = |area_code = |blank_name = [[Köppen climate classification|Climate]] |blank_info = [[Semi-arid climate#Hot semi-arid climates|BSh]] |blank1_name = |blank1_info = |website = |footnotes = }}

'''Moshupa''' is a large village in the [[Southern District, Botswana|Southern District]] of [[Botswana]] with a population of 20,016 per the 2011 census.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Molemoeng |first=Timothy |date=2020 |title=2011 Botswana Population Housing and Census |url=https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/view/63039123/2011-population-and-housing-census |url-status=live |archive-url=https://www.statsbots.org.bw/sites/default/files/publications/Ngwaketse%20District.pdf |archive-date=28 September 2023 |access-date=28 September 2023 |website=Statistics Botswana}}</ref> The people of Moshupa are called the [[Tswana people|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 [[South African Republic|Transvaal]] region in South Africa throughout the eighteenth century.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Matemba |first=Yonah Hisbon |date=2000 |title=The BaKgatla ba ga Mmanaana split, 1934–36: The impact of the Biritish sub-Imperial rule in Botswana |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/40980265.pdf |journal=[the Botswana society] |volume=32 (2000) |pages=44–46 |jstor=40980265 }}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Moshupa |url=https://www.botswana-info.com/country/town/985/moshupa |access-date=28 September 2023 |website=Botswana Info Directory}}</ref>

The chief (kgosi) of Moshupa is Kgosi Kgabosetso Mosielele. The chief currently serves in the [[Customary Court of Appeal (Botswana)|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.

==Religion== There are a large number of Christians in Moshupa. The most popular are the [[United Congregational Church of South Africa]], the [[Seventh-day Adventist Church]], the [[Assemblies of God]], the Apostolic Faith Mission, the [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholic Church]], the [[Zion Christian Church]], and the [[Indian Pentecostal Church of God]] alongside other Afro-Christian and charismatic [[Pentecostalism|Pentecostal]] assemblies. One of the oldest churches is the Mothowagae Church, established in 1903.<ref>University of London Institute, 1968</ref>

==Politics== The member of parliament for Moshupa is the Honorable [[Karabo Gare]].

==References== * [https://books.google.com/books?id=ZGkPAAAAIAAJ&q=moshupa ''Comptes Rendus'' (1954)] * University of London Institute of Commonwealth Studies (1968) ''Collected Seminar Papers'', no.8-13 1967-1971

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[[Category:Populated places in Botswana]]