04 Dec 2016

The director of cooperatives development, Mr Motse Otlhabanye, has implored the church to hold their leaders accountable.

Speaking during official opening of the over P900 000 Lighthouse Jesus Ministry and handing of over of the Mission House on behalf of the Assistant Minister of Trade Investment and Industry Mr Biggie Butale in Metsimotlhabe recently, Mr Otlhabanye said it was the responsibility of church members to guard against any form of corruption or selfishness among such leaders.

“Let us not be used by selfish individuals to enrich them at our expense and see to it that we say no to such conduct and root out appalling practices within our churches”, he advised.

He said it was important for congregations to familiarise themselves with statutory governing church operations to be able to challenge any maladministration that may occur.

Mr Otlhabanye called on members not to easily give up and despair but rather use the constitution governing church operations to re-direct things considered to be getting out of way, arguing that the government without support of church members would not be able to identify such perpetrators to be brought to book.

The appalling state of affair he said compelled the government to consider the review of societies’ act in order to manage some unscrupulous individuals and churches.

Mr Othabanye congratulated Lighthouse Ministry for the achievement adding that, putting up such a structure clearly highlights the spirit of giving coupled with prudent management of church funds. “I have to state that nowadays some bogus people hide behind the word of God and ripe church members their hard earned money as these are issues in papers and radio here and outside the country”, he noted.

He however challenged churches to think outside the box and use programmes within government to form coopratives through viable business models that could help create employment opportunities and alleviate poverty among church members.

Meanwhile The Lighthouse Jesus Ministry of Botswana’s Bishop Noah was grateful about Fast Track Construction through its Managing Director Mr Richard Sibanda’s donation of a P200 000 modern technology house being used to provide free accommodation for two University Students who are part of the congregation.

He expressed gratitude over the church’s achievement that was made possible by significant contributions of individual members who worked tirelessly towards putting up the structure that is regarded “State of the Art” after its establishment in 1998

The director of Fast Track Construction Mr Sibanda was gratified for being able to achieve the intended goal of making such a donation to the church. The two beds structure made of steel was among the few being piloted by Fast Track Construction around Gaborone..

The Gaborone Branch chairperson of Evangelical Fellowship of Botswana EFB Mr Moffat Lubinda commended Bishop Noah for his visionary leadership, describing him as a dedicated and committed leader whose abilities was evident through various assignments he undertook as the secretariat of EFB. ENDS