21 Apr 2014

The Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs is in the process of reviewing a model constitution for religious organisations.

Speaking at the official opening of the Christ the Word of God Church in Francistown over the Easter holidays, the Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Mr Edwin Batshu, said the proposed model constitution was aimed at clearly spelling out the authority governing the organisations, specific duties of the office bearers and the need for the organisation to have a place of worship that could be inspected by the registrar should there be a need.

Mr Batshu said during the ministry’s interactions with the religious communities, challenges such as lack of leadership accountability and poor governance by church leaders emanated hence the review of a model constitution.

The minister further explained that the proposed model constitution would help close gaps relating to financial accountability and therefore religious organisations would be required to open and operate bank accounts and to keep financial records for a specific period of time before destruction for any eventuality.

“The constitution will ensure accountability of governing structures, including the boards, to their members and to government in consonance with the Societies Act, which is currently under review,” he explained.

Mr Batshu encouraged the churches to take keen interest in the new model constitution so that their own constitutions were reviewed in line to the proposed model.

On other issues, the minister said government was concerned about the deteriorating moral values in the society and he appealed to churches to assist the government in addressing the problem.

In his welcome remarks Bishop Sonny Nkomo pleaded with government to exempt churches from paying service levy or to have reduced levies and rates for churches as they were non-profit making organisations.

He decried that in the rural areas where most of the church members were elderly and unemployed, the church was faced with a problem of paying service levy.

Bishop Nkomo also decried that the church plot was too small and further developments could not be done. He said the church which was established in Cleveland, USA in 1820 by Reverend Clement Tedius as Church of Christ came to Botswana in 1939 and had since changed to Christ the Word of God.

He said the church had branches in Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa , USA and Botswana. Its headquarters were in Francistown. He said the church buildings were built at a cost in excess of P100 000 and the funds were raised through concerts. ends