20 Feb 2022

 Faith Based Organisations (FBOs) have been challenged to invest in the economy.
Speaking during the budget speech review meeting, Botswana Gambling Authority CEO, Mr Thuli Johnson said FBO members should invest in the economy through property and logistics so that do not depend only on donations and offerings.
Mr Johnson said it was high time the church made proposals to government, including conducting researches that could be infused into government.
He said the economy had been in deficits over the years and that the norm of the church being dependent was almost over as donors were also overwhelmed due to COVID-19 pandemic that resulted in a global economic crisis.
Mr Johnson therefore, said FBOs being more active in the capital markets would consequently result in them growing and being independent.
He said transformation was powerful and so was the outcome hence FBOs should take steps towards a sustainable fiscal future.
Botswana Council of Churches general secretary, Reverend Gabriel Tsuaneng said although the church remained critical in Botswana, it was left out in the budget speech.
Rev. Tsuaneng said for that reason, the organisation needed to investigate reasons they had been left out though they played a pivotal role, not only in society but in other ministries as education and health.
 Rev. Tsuaneng called for the omission to be corrected.
The theme: Unlocking the Potential of Organisational Co-existence FBOs Surviving Together in Revenue Driven by Society, Rev Tsuaneng said, challenged FBOs to move forward for the benefit of Batswana and the organisation as a whole.
He said the theme suggested that in them lay great potential and therefore must pull all stops to get there. Rev. Tsuaneng said COVID -19 had a great impact on the church as it suffered economically, spiritually and psychologically.
He said the church therefore, needed survival means and called upon other churches to hold onto each other, to reach the finish line together because some churches were really blown away by COVID-19.
Sharing the same sentiments, Rev Mpho Moruakgomo called on the church to invest in a mindset change because the church today could not survive without any business model.
“The church must be in a position to enable and empower,” he said, adding that churches should apply their minds and co-exist. ENDS