23 Jan 2022

Archbishop George Makhurutha, of Bethlehem City of Christ Church in Zion (BCCCZ), has passed away.

The archbishop died approximately seven months after his installation as the leader of the church in Botswana.

Confirming the sad news on Friday morning, the BCCCZ chairman Mr Reuben Tshenolo explained that Archbishop Makhurutha succumbed to a short-term illness. He said the elderly church leader had been hospitalised at Athlone Hospital in Lobatse since the beginning of this month.

“He complained of being unwell recently and told me last Sunday that the illness had gotten worse,” Mr Tshenolo said in a brief interview.

Mr Tshenolo said funeral arrangements would be communicated in due course. He added that the BCCCZ Lobatse branch, where Archbishop Makhurutha fellowshipped for over 50 years, would arrange a memorial service this week.

Mr Makhurutha was appointed the BCCCZ Archbishop in June last year as successor to late Archbishop Isaiah Setimela.

At his coronation which was held in Lobatse in September, he promised to lead the church diligently with principles of love, respect and kindness.

The church, which has 78 branches in Botswana, has existed in this country for more than seven decades. ENDS