Productive change, a theme on which much of the narrative revolves, is fundamental to When Rain Clouds Gather. Most obviously, Gilbert’s attempts to grow cash crops such as millet and tobacco, raise higher-grade beef, and adopt new organizational methods in ranching and agriculture are central to the action. His initiatives transform Golema Mmidi while inspiring other characters—and lead to one of the narrative’s central conflicts, the hostility between Gilbert and Matenge. But social progress occurs on other levels, beyond Gilbert’s initiatives in agriculture and infrastructure. The women of the village, for instance, take on a more assertive role in their society after Makhaya and Paulina reach out to them; moreover, the whole of Botswana is moving towards a modern electoral system that could empower the common people. Gilbert’s pursuits are just one element in the progress of an entire society.

Within the novel, religion helps characters to form their ideas about human nature and to explain the world around them. Perhaps the most important example here is Mma-Millipede, a woman who is devoted to the bible, and who acknowledges the suffering in the world and professes a belief in human fellowship.