Central District (Botswana)

Central
District
Waterhole in Serowe
Location within Botswana
Coordinates: 22°00′S 26°00′E / 22.000°S 26.000°E / -22.000; 26.000Coordinates: 22°00′S 26°00′E / 22.000°S 26.000°E / -22.000; 26.000
Country	Botswana
Capital	Serowe
Area
• Total	147,730 km2 (57,040 sq mi)
Population (2011 census)
• Total	638,604
• Density	4.3/km2 (11/sq mi)
Time zone	Central Africa Time (UTC+2)

Central is the largest of Botswana's districts in terms of area and population. It encompasses the traditional homeland of the Bamangwato people. Some of the most politically connected Batswana have come from the Central District, including former President Sir Seretse Khama, former President Festus Mogae, and current President Lt. General Seretse Ian Khama. The district borders Zimbabwe's Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South Provinces, and in the southeast Central borders South Africa's Limpopo Province, North-East in the northeast, Kgatleng in the south, Kweneng in southwest, Ghanzi in the North and North-West in the northwest direction

As of 2011, the total population of the district was 576,064 compared to 501,381 in 2001. The growth rate of population during the decade was 1.40. The population in the district was 28.45 per cent of the total population in the country. Main population centers in Central include Palapye and Serowe, two of Africa's largest traditional villages. The district also contains tributaries of the Limpopo River, which are prone to flash floods when sudden rainstorms drain eastward into the Limpopo. The district is administered by a district administration and district council which are responsible for local administration. The total number of workers constituted 186,943 with 95,717 males and 91,221 females, with a majority working in transport and communication sector.