GABORONE — A simulated real-life shopping centre at the foot of Kgale Hill is currently a beehive of activity as the setting for the shooting of the movie and the television series The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency.

This follows the decision by the film directors and producers to choose Kgale View as the central setting to the shooting of the movie which began on July 9 2007.

The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency is a passionate story chronicling the adventures of Precious Ramotswe, the traditionally built, sensible and wise proprietor of the only female -owned detective agency in Botswana.

Her agency is located in a small store-front at the foot of Kgale Hill. The character of Mma Ramotswe is played by international celebrity Jill Scott.

The simulated shopping centre draws inspiration from Alexander McCall Smith's serialised novels to bring to life the kind of environment under which Mma Ramotswe works as she investigates cases and helps people solve problems in their lives.

The set designed by Johnny Breedt, draws inspiration from existing establishments in Gaborone, Lobatse, Mahalapye and Serowe.

The directors have simulated, among other buildings, familiar places such a double storey building located at the shopping complex commonly referred to as Dabutha's mall and a popular chemist in the African Mall.

The mall buildings in the set include Double Joy, The Humble Pharmacy, Meat Great & Butchery, Sepadupa Spares and Repairs, Patel's Comfort Store, Sorinyane Hi Tek Electricals, Kgale Post Office and Blue and Red General Dealer and, Last Chance Hair Saloon

The set becomes even more familiar due to the existence of informal sector activities as vegetable stalls, iron roof barber shops, cellular phone and Kwik Recharge cubicles for street vendors.

Film Publicist Joy Sapieka highlighted in an interview that the set has a potential of becoming a tourist attraction in the future.

She said they have signed for a ten year lease with the Government and after the shooting of the film and the series the buildings will stay.

"It will be a lovely idea to put it as a tourist attraction. In most countries, film sets eventually become big tourist attractions," she said.

Ms Sapieka said that in most cases after watching the movie or film people want to visit the actual set where the film was shot. She said there is a possibility of a television series for all the other series books by McCall Smith to be shot at the set.

Ms Sapieka said because of the set being closer to real-life buildings they have already received a number of people wandering into the set thinking it was a real shopping center. "Some inquired if the buildings were for rent, others wanted to buy vegetables while others wanted to do their hair."

Meanwhile the 'The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency' McCall Smith expressed satisfaction at the way the set has been designed.

He said central to all the buildings is the first old building, called Double Joy in the film, which is at the foot of Kgale Hill. This is the building where Mma Ramotswe's Detective Agency is based.

The existence of Mr Patel's Store is something notable saying it is one of the regular stores used by Mma Ramotswe.

He said the fading or worn out paint on the buildings matched those in his book.

He said even though Gaborone has changed a lot over the years, the set captures the period under which the books are set. "The buildings communicate something about the nature of the country and its people," he said.

He however advised more on the use of the colour blue which he said says a lot about the warm pace of the country.

With the film being shot locally, he expressed hope that this could kick-start the film industry in Botswana.

"I am pleased that the film is being shot in Botswana and is being made by the people who understand the philosophy of the book," he said.