24 Jul 2017

The United Congregational Church of Southern Africa (UCCSA) has been implored to rise up and help government speak against the use of religion to exploit ordinary people.

Officiating at the 24^th biennial conference and 50^th anniversary of UCCSA soldiers of Christ organisation in Nata recently, Minister of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs, Mr Edwin Batshu said government was concerned that religion was being used to enrich few individuals.

The minister noted that whilst churches preached that Jesus is Lord of the church and society, there were those who preached the lordship of prophets, apostles, majors and other characters who come with such flamboyant titles.

He therefore appealed to the churches in the country, especially those with the kind of experience such as that of the UCCSA, to rise up and help government address the use of religion to exploit ordinary citizens.

He added that his ministry being the one responsible for churches and societies remained open to working with the church and other entities in finding ways of protecting the citizenry against religious and spiritual abuse.

Furthermore, Minister Batshu, also Member of Parliament for Nkange, pointed out that parallel to exploitation of the people by certain clergy, was the issue of credentials of the priests which required attention.

“If not attended to, the issue has the potential to tarnish the trustworthiness of the entire church fraternity,” he said.

He also stated that although they appreciate the fact that Batswana were becoming religious, the mushrooming of churches has had its own downside of being motivated in some cases by priests from all over the World.

“This has given room for some unscrupulous individuals to masquerade as priests coming from certain nationalities which have in the end made continued requests for permits for such nationalities to practice in the country to be a bit challenging as they attract suspicion, calling for more caution in accepting them,” he said.

Mr Batshu therefore noted that it was in this endeavor that government had to review the Societies Act which included among others raising the number of persons required to form a church as efforts to protect its citizens.

Meanwhile president of UCCSA Reverend Mosweu Simane said their church was founded on solid foundation of unity and diversification as per God’s guidance.

Reverend Simane added that the purpose of the church by God’s principle was to gather people together in loving and peaceful set up. ENDS