25 Sep 2022

The United Congregational Church of Southern Africa (UCCSA) is a partner in the development of Southern Africa, given its contribution during the liberation struggle, Minister for State President, Mr Kabo Morwaeng has said.

Mr Morwaeng  said the church made a difference in the sectors of education, health as well as community development while in Botswana it played a critical role in the political self-governance of the country.

Minister Morwaeng was speaking at the 41st General Assembly of the church in Gaborone on Thursday.

The general assembly is made up of five countries of Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Mozambique and Namibia that operate as a Synod.

He noted that when the three dikgosi went to seek British protection in London, they were accompanied, aided and guided by the then London Missionary Society (LMS) now UCCSA Reverend Willoughby.

“This is a profound contribution to which we remain eternally grateful.

Additionally, the first mayors of Gaborone and Francistown were the London Missionary Society /United Congregational Church of Southern Africa ministers, as well as the first Speaker of the National Assembly.

They were not self-seeking to occupy political office but rather to provide service to the nation,” he said.

Therefore, he said government acknowledged and continued to appreciate the works of the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa, adding that as a development partner the country still yearned for more of the acts of nobility.

Furthermore, Minister Morwaeng implored the church to reflect on socio-economic issues affecting the SADC region, such as COVID-19 and post COVID-19 challenges, gender-based violence (GBV), HIV&AIDS and non-communicable diseases, climate change and food security challenges.

He assured the church that government would be willing to explore ways and means of complementing each other as partners in the development of programmes and activities that sought to combat societal challenges.

In his welcome, President of the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa, Reverend Sikhalo Cele said the church celebrated the history and relations experienced with the SADC states.

He concurred that the church played an important role in the liberation of Southern Africa.

The 41st General Assembly will see the induction of Reverend Rupert Hambira to the position of United Congregational Church of Southern Africa president, taking the reins from Reverend Cele.

Reverend Hambira is the third Motswana to be inducted as United Congregational Church of Southern Africa’s president since its inception in 1967. ENDS