Kgafela develops game for civic engagement

Otlarongwa Kgweetsi | Tuesday April 8, 2025 06:01

In an interview with Arts&Culture, Kgafela explained that the game is designed as a participatory tool rather than a traditional board game. She stated that MOOT city game explores how communities can actively contribute to shaping their environments through simulated decision-making processes. “By integrating gamification into urban development, the project offers a dynamic approach to civic engagement, emphasising collaboration and real-world problem-solving,” she explained. The game allows two to five players to assume roles in a cooperative effort to develop housing and economic activities within a structured urban framework. Using land-use adjacency rules, players must strategically place tiles on the board to create a thriving city.

She further highlighted that the game’s mechanics encourage discussions about zoning regulations, economic development, and spatial justice, providing a hands-on experience of the complexities involved in urban planning. By immersing participants in decision-making scenarios, the game promotes a deeper understanding of how policies and planning choices impact urban landscapes. According to Kgafela, the game is designed to challenge conventional urban planning models by encouraging a participatory approach. “MOOT city game is not just about playing; it’s about learning how decisions in urban planning affect real communities,” she explained. “The aim is to foster more inclusive conversations and enable people to visualise the impact of their choices on the built environment,” she stated. The primary aim of the MOOT city game is to provide an interactive and educational platform for civic engagement in urban development. By simulating real-world planning scenarios, the game enables players to explore the consequences of urban design choices, ultimately fostering a more informed and proactive public. One of the key objectives is to democratise urban planning by making it accessible to a wider audience. “We often see urban planning as something reserved for experts, but through gamification, we can break down complex concepts and allow everyone to participate,” Kgafela states.

The game seeks to empower communities, giving them the tools to engage with policymakers and advocate for their needs more effectively. Another objective is to highlight the role of local knowledge systems in shaping sustainable urban environments. The game incorporates real-world challenges such as infrastructure development, resource allocation, and gentrification, encouraging players to consider how these factors influence city growth. “Local communities have valuable insights that are often overlooked in formal planning processes. MOOT city game provides a structured way for these voices to be heard,” Kgafela adds. To ground her research in real-world contexts, Kgafela has chosen to focus on three villages in Botswana: Oodi, Mogoditshane, and Tlokweng. These locations present diverse urbanisation challenges, ranging from rapid expansion and informal settlements to infrastructure constraints. By using the MOOT city game in these communities, Kgafela aims to create a platform where residents can actively voice their opinions on how they want their villages to be developed. “The game is meant to empower people to speak for themselves about the future of their towns and villages,” Kgafela explains. “Too often, planning decisions are made without meaningful public input. This tool allows communities to articulate their needs and aspirations in a structured and impactful way,” she says. Kgafela envisions the game as a means of bridging the gap between technical expertise and public participation. “When people are actively involved in planning their communities, they are more likely to engage with urban policies and advocate for changes that reflect their needs,” she further says.

Looking ahead, Kgafela hopes to digitise MOOT city game to reach a wider audience and enhance its functionality. A digital version would allow for broader accessibility, real-time data collection, and integration with existing urban planning tools. “Digitisation will take the game to the next level, making it easier for more communities to participate and for policymakers to analyse input from diverse groups,” she explains. She concluded that by transforming urban planning into an interactive and accessible process, the MOOT city game is not only educating but also empowering citizens to take an active role in shaping their urban environments.