13 Jul 2022

 The re-registration of churches requirement is ill-timed coming so soon after the COVID-19 pandemic,  says Jehovah’s Potters House Assembly leader.

Addressing congregants and guests during the church’s 11th anniversary celebrations in Francistown Sunday, Prophetess Dr Keorapetse Muzila said a lot of churches had lost members to the pandemic making re-registration difficult.

Churches were still grieving and mourning the loss of members due to the pandemic, she stated.

Prophetess Muzila labelled the re-registration regulation a setback for all churches.

Turning to the church’s origins, she said it began in 2010 with only seven members  assembling in a rented one-roomed house. It was registered on July 7, 2011.

Dr Muzila said membership continued to grow necessitating relocation  to several places including Somerset location Ward Development Committee Hall and Botswana Game Industry buildings.

After constantly relocating, Prophetess Muzila said the church ultimately bought a plot where it was currently based.

Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police, Ms Cynthia Setilo explained that police  occasionally visited churches as they formed part of community policing services.

She commended Dr Muzila for standing with the police and acceding to their calls for help during memorial services for officers.

Ms Setilo urged congregants to bring children and youth to church where they would be moulded.

Grooming children in this era was crucial as in the absence of parents they learnt bad behaviour from peers, she added.

On other issues, Ms Setilo lamented the growing number of drug abuse and defilement cases as well as undisciplined underage girls who indulged in sex..

Specially elected councillor, Mr Modiri Lucas urged churches to assist government in the fight against Gender Based Violence (GBV).

He suggested that churches form GBV committees to help fight the scourge.

Churches were also asked to assist young congregants to become entrepreneurs. BOPA