05 Mar 2015

The leadership of Botswana views religion including Christianity seriously as evidenced by the partnership that government enjoys with the religious organisations.

Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Mr Edwin Batshu, told Parliament that the role played by the church in society was visible and much appreciated. 

He said examples were their contribution to development of educational and health facilities, delivery of social services such as care for vulnerable people building of family and societal morals as well as provision of the psycho-social support and nation building.

Mr Batshu said the constitution of Botswana provided for the protection of freedom of conscience including freedom of religion.  To date, according to the minister a total of 1913 religious organisations have been registered and continue to enjoy this right.

“His Excellency the President of Botswana Lt Gen Seretse Khama Ian Khama continuously consults with Faith based organisations on matters of national interest. 

As recent as 30th January 2015, President convened a joint consultative meeting with Ntlo ya Dikgosi and representatives of the leadership faith based organization registered under the societies act to consult them on issues of concern and national interest in particular the deteriorating morals among our people and promotion of tolerance among people of different religious beliefs and cultural values,” he said.

Mr Batshu said the meeting was a follow up to the implementation of the recommendation of the report compiled by the Joint committee of Ntlo ya Dikgosi and religious leaders on social values, in 2008 which was appointed by the President to carry out nationwide consultative meetings on social ills affecting the nation their cause and possible strategies for addressing them. 

Mr Batshu also held a meeting with the leadership of the faith based organisations in Gaborone regarding establishment of inter body that will address these issues.

He was responding to a question from Gaborone North MP, Mr Haskins Nkaigwa who had asked the minister to explain if government was against the establishment of churches and if not why the proposal of unrealistic laws in relation to the establishment of churches. 

Mr Nkaigwa also asked the minister to state the role played by churches in society and how seriously did the leadership of the country view religion and mostly Christian as the core religion in the country and how the new law of societies (amendment bill) address the works of God which are physical but not spiritual. ENDS