Demystifying snakes among Batswana

Only a few will get to read through this simply because of their fear and/or hate for snakes. It is Setswana tradition that when a snake is spotted, it is killed.

The killing is typically an epic show, with wild shouting, heavy weapons, stones, logs and everything thrown at the direction of the snake. If the snake disappears amidst the avalanche of missiles directed at it, people either move or even burn the whole house just to kill any remnants of the serpent.