25 Feb 2018

Members of the Organisation of African Instituted Churches (OAIC) came together to thank and bid farewell to President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama.

Members also bestowed President Khama with the Pope Shenouda III Award and gave him gifts which included money amounting to P15 000, two cows, three chickens and a walking stick.

Handing over the gifts during a farewell ceremony in Palapye on February 24, the leader of OAIC, Bishop Tebogo Motlhagodi expressed gratitude to President Khama for recognising the role of the church in building a united, disciplined and compassionate nation. He said President Khama recognised the importance of churches

in helping the government to deal with social ills that confront the nation, particularly moral decay amongst young people.

He said the OAIC, like other Christian organisations, felt honoured and privileged for that recognition.

Bishop Motlhagodi also thanked President Khama for promoting the spirit of compassion by establishing the Presidential Housing Appeal. He called on the nation, the private sector and other organisations to help build shelter for the less privileged members of society. He noted that President Khama led the country during the global economic recession, but ensured that the economy of the country remained stable.

He also commended President Khama for his good governance and following the footsteps of his predecessors.

However, he called on the government to reconsider the P500 lease paid by churches in the Central District, saying it was too much for independent churches.

He said most of the churches affiliated to OAIC were attended by the elderly who were not working hence the lease rate was too high.

He also requested government to allocate plots to churches, saying the majority of churches had no place of worship.

The youth representative, Mr Moseki Otukile thanked President Khama for empowering young people.

He said the youth in African independent churches had benefitted from programmes initiated by President Khama, adding that church choirs were able to participate in Presidential Art Competitions.  

Receiving the gifts on behalf of President Khama, Permanent Secretary to the President, Mr Carter Morupisi thanked the OAIC members for the gifts.

He said OAIC was established in 1978 in order to respond to the socio-economic challenges afflicting the African continent such as poverty, diseases as well as decline in morality and cultural values.

He also acknowledged the role that churches continued to play in national development efforts.

He said since independence the country has benefited from the vital and generous development support provided by non-governmental organisations, including churches.

He commended OAIC for partnering with government on buiding a morally tolerant and compassionate society.

He also commended OAIC for the good work it continued to do by providing the much needed support for the less privileged members of society. He added that they responded positively to President Khama’s Presidential Housing Appeal initiative.

Mr Morupisi further emphasised that the country was committed to upholding freedom of religion as guaranteed by the constitution.

He noted, however, that the constitution permitted the freedoms to be limited in certain circumstances where public safety and morality were compromised, adding that the government was concerned by a disturbing trend where pastors operated in the country without being officially registered thus violating national laws. He urged churches to assist government in fighting social ills such as money laundering, misuse of social media and other forms of crime.

He also assured them that the government would consider the lease rate paid by churches in the Central District.

The MP for Palapye, Mr Moiseraele Goya also commended President Khama for touching the lives of the young and elderly in various ways and making a difference in their lives.

He thanked the President for always giving Bibles, thus promoting the word of God amongst the nation and by so doing giving Batswana wisdom.

He urged parents to continue spreading the gospel in society, and to encourage their children to attend church on Sundays.

He said it would help deal with issues of indiscipline in schools and would help improve academic performance.

He said it was worrisome that academic results were continuing to decline, and called on churches to assist in this regard.ENDS