04 Sep 2016

Guta Ra Jehova church has been commended for abiding by the laws that govern churches.

Nkange MP, also the Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Mr Edwin Batshu, praised Guta Ra Jehova when officiating at the church’s conference in Tutume on Saturday.

 Mr Batshu said the church was among the 200 churches legally registered in Botswana and that their activities had been in line with principles of the Societies Act. 

He lamented that in recent years, the country had seen an mushrooming of religious groups, coupled with a lot of infighting for money and subsequent split-ups.

“Such factors have led to in-depth scrutiny by government and the necessary steps being taken against wrong doers because, in most cases, breakaway leaders and their followers would operate without the required registration,” he pointed out.

 He warned that appropriate action would be taken against illegally operating churches including completely writing them off.

He however appealed to Guta Ra Jehova and other churches to continue guiding Batswana in the right direction as a God fearing nation, adding that since independence in 1966, the laws of Botswana had allowed for freedom of worship.

Furthermore, he praised the church for holding its conference during the month of prayer to join in other churches as they praise and give thanks to the lord for having protected and guided the country for its 50 years of independence.

The church leader Mr Changamire Zimunya acknowledged the country’s rule of law which they have always abided by in their activities. 

He pointed out that they were brought together by the different problems they faced in their respective lives.

“As a church, we encourage, through prayer, each member to confess first their sins and then commit never to go back to their bad ways; this is how we heal our people,” he said.

 He further said, as church they also encouraged the spirit of helping one another as per the holy bible scripture that says; ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself’.

For instance, the Tutume branch has helped uplift one needy family by fencing their yard, installing a water standpipe and building a toilet for them, said the leader.

Mr Batshu handed over the project to the beneficiary Mr Joe Jimson of Madikwe ward in Tutume. ENDS