16 Aug 2016

Government and the church have been partners in development and promotion of national unity,  Assistant Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration Mr Dikgang Makgalemele has said.
Speaking during  the golden jubilee celebrations for Botswana Council of Churches (BCC) recently, he said the coexistence of the state and religion played a crucial role in the success of developmental, unity and furtherance of democratic ideals that were  now part of the cultural norms and values  of Batswana.
He said the history of Botswana would not be complete without mentioning the role played by the church during and post-colonial period.
He said at formative period of independence, Botswana had virtually nothing, but it was the church, which steered the country through turbulent era ensuring that the nation received development aid and built a solid foundation.
“Our existence therefore as a democracy, founded upon strong principle of faith and unity before the lord.  How fitting then, that on the eve of our 50 years anniversary as a country, we are able to look back at the church as a constant that has helped shape those 50 years,” he said.
The minister said the role of the church as providing access to basic education to a young nation back then, education lessons delivered within church precincts and later many schools run by churches like the Anglican, Roman Catholic, LMS/UCCSA, Lutheran and others is a well-documented endeavor of helping hand by the church.
He said to show commitment to collaborating with the church, President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama engaged religious leadership in poverty eradication efforts.
He said Lt Gen. Dr Khama also appointed a joint advisory committee of Ntlo Ya Dikgosi and Botswana Council of Churches to advice on how to deal with social ills afflicting the nation.
Minister Makgalemele said government was more than ready to partner with the churches to build their capacity not only to disseminate information on poverty eradication and other empowerment programmes offered by government, but also to help church members access such programmes as well.
For his part BCC President  Rev Metlhayotlhe Beleme the church played a huge role in shaping the future of the present Botswana by actively participating in formative and post-independence era as evidenced former BCC executives such as Brian Bailey who became the first mayor of Francistown.
He said J D Jones became the first mayor of Gaborone whilst Rev Locke and Dr Alfred Merriweather respectively became the first and second Speakers of National Assembly during independence.
“This and many more examples demonstrate the pivotal role of the church in shaping the history of Botswana.  We have always been and will always be interested in the socio-economic, political and spiritual matters of this nation.
 Rev Beleme paid homage to founding members of the Clergy and churches, former staff and volunteers who toiled and labored over the 50 years to promote unity and coexistence of the community, and the church.
“We do not just celebrate the achievements of the churches under the auspices of BCC, but also celebrate the little efforts made by individual churches to change lives at grass roots level such as in Orphan care projects, Home Base Care and education for prevention youth projects as well as secondary education at St Joseph's and Mater Spei College provided by Catholic church.  
The Anglican's orphan care projects and hospice project, Lephoi Centre for the Blind, Maun Secondary School, and orphan care whilst Methodist's youth centre and orphan care projects are a few example of many projects undertaken by the church movement to change lives of  many in Botswana,” he said.
Rev Beleme said the celebration within the context of fighting moral decay social ills, the problem of corruption at all levels, and a number of strategies were shared to fight problems facing the nation such as promotion  of the family unit. ENDS