24 Mar 2015

The Vice President, Mr Mokgweetsi Masisi, says the Societies (Amendment) Bill will not trample on individual rights as enshrined in the Constitution of Botswana.

Debating the bill on March 23, Mr Masisi, who is also the MP for Moshupa-Manyana, said people in his constituency supported the bill, although the majority said the 250 people required to register a church was high.

He said his constituents urged that their rights be respected. The VP said his government would not in any day pass laws that could be against basic human rights and there was no such motive in the current bill. He further said no one would ever be prosecuted for his or her religious beliefs.

The bill, he added, was not xenophobic as suggested by some MPs. Mr Masisi said some religious leaders even suggested that all church associations be included in the envisaged arbitration council.

For his part, Specially Elected MP, Mr Eric Molale reiterated the same sentiments saying government was acting at the best interest of its citizens. He called on his colleagues to support the bill, saying perhaps the 250 number was high and should be reduced, which was a major contention amongst majority of the MPs.

MP for Selebi Phikwe West, Mr Dithapelo Keorapetse and MP for Mogoditshane, Mr Sedirwa Kgoroba opposed the bill saying it was unconstitutional. MP Keorapetse said in his view, there should be separation of the church and the state as practised in the United States.

He further said the bill was against Section 11, 12 and 13 of the Constitution as it infringed on the freedom of religion. MP Kgoroba said he cherished freedom and therefore he would not support a bill that trampled upon individual rights. He said there should be a way of tackling fraud priests and false prophets adding the matter would end up in court of law. ENDS