When Rain Clouds Gather

Matenge’s habits and appearance are dictated by the idea that he is royalty: he tends to sit in a high-backed chair and normally wears a purple gown when he is in his house. He presents a contrast to his loud, crude ally Joas Tsepe, who comes from a lower class and has tried to take advantage of recent governmental changes. Botswana politics has two significant parties: a party of uneducated agitators who favor idealistic rhetoric, and a party dominated by the sons of chiefs, who are both more refined in expression and more pragmatic in their approach to national problems. So far, the party of the sons of chiefs has prevailed in Botswana’s elections, while members of the other party have been publicly mocked and punished for corruption.

Joas is speaking loudly and vehemently against Gilbert when Makhaya and Dinorego arrive. Makhaya meets with Matenge, and recognizes that the chief is a lonely, anxious man. Although Matenge acknowledges the new arrival, he makes a point of insulting Makhaya, describing the young man as undesirable and promising to make life difficult for him. Dinorego succeeds in leading the hot-tempered Makhaya away, but not before Makhaya himself insults Joas Tsepe.

After this scene of tension, Makhaya and Dinorego make their way to the home of one of Dinorego’s closest friends, an old, religious, independent-minded woman named Mma-Millipede. As young people, Dinorego and Mma-Millipede had been promised to one another in marriage. However, because Ramogodi, the womanizing son of a chief, had wanted Mma-Millipede for his own wife, the marriage between Dinorego and Mma-Millipede had been terminated. Fortunately, the two reunited later in life, after Ramogodi’s philandering created a scandal that resulted in the suicide of his brother and the exile of his son. Dinorego conveys all this information to Makhaya, yet the busy Makhaya cannot stay on Mma-Millipede’s property for long. His visit is mostly pleasant; soon after he departs, Mma-Millipede praises his good looks and Dinorego explains that he has been hoping to marry Maria and Makhaya.

Matenge goes to see George Appleby-Smith and learns that the question of whether Makhaya can stay in the country will be decided in one week. Later, at the end of this interval, Matenge drives out to the office that handles immigration; here, he learns that Makhaya has been granted permission to remain in Botswana. Matenge, deeply upset, is struck with a case of high blood pressure that lands him in the hospital. Almost simultaneously, Joas is called away on a political mission, and their absences facilitate a month of rapid changes in Golema Mmidi.

The narrator explains that the changes and improvements in Golema Mmidi are enabled by residents with strong personalities, such as Dinorego and Paulina Sebeso, a young mother. Paulina is a relative newcomer to the village; in part, she relocated as the result of a disastrous marriage. Though apparently a man of honor, Paulina’s husband had been implicated in an embezzlement case at the company that employed him. He hanged himself shortly after being charged. Paulina brought her young son and daughter, Isaac and Lorato, to resettle with her. The girl attends a Golema Mmidi village school while the boy herds the family cattle.

From a distance, Paulina develops an attraction to Makhaya. She watches him as he roams the landscape around sunset, and finally decides to introduce herself by sending her daughter to greet Makhaya on the family’s behalf. Makhaya simply replies that he does not know Paulina and walks off. Embarrassed by this development, Paulina seeks out Mma-Millipede and voices her fears—that she has behaved improperly, that Makhaya is attracted to Maria. Mma-Millipede consoles Paulina by pointing out that there seems to be a romance between Maria and Gilbert.

Indeed, Gilbert is deeply attracted to Maria but is overcome with doubts; she has sought his company less often since Makhaya’s appearance. He eventually voices these apprehensions to Makhaya and finds that his anxieties only increase when Makhaya responds with unconcerned and uninvolved silence. Gilbert sets off to see Dinorego and Maria; he quickly secures Maria’s hand in marriage, bringing their long, unofficial courtship to an end.

Shortly after accepting Gilbert’s proposal, Maria goes to see Mma-Millipede. The old woman comforts her young companion—who finds that her thoughts are disoriented but resolves to be loyal to Gilbert—and begins making plans for a wedding feast. Gilbert rejoins Makhaya, and their friendship continues with its usual warmth and liveliness. Mma-Millipede and Maria make their way to the house of Paulina Sebeso, whose initiative will certainly be helpful in arranging a successful wedding feast. For her part, Paulina is delighted that Maria is no longer a competitor for Makhaya’s affections.