01 Dec 2013

Minister of Labour and Home Affairs Mr Edwin Batshu says he is not aware that deportation of some pastors or church ministers is causing panic to members of their organisations.

He explained that pastors/church ministers deported from Botswana were deported in accordance with the provisions of section 41 (1) (C) of the immigration Act which states that, “a person is a prohibited immigrant and his/her entry into or presence within Botswana is unlawful if he/she is a person who, in consequences of information received from a reliable source, is declared by the State President to be a prohibited immigrant”. 

He further explained that pastors deported during last five years came into the country, one as a church pastor and the other as a dependent who later became a minister of religion.

He stated that two pastors/church Ministers were deported last five years and they were from two different churches, namely; Eagle Ministries International and Full Gospel Ministries. He mentioned that none of the two pastors had applied for citizenship. 

Mr Batshu was responding to a question asked by MP for Kanye South Abram Kesupile who had asked him if he was aware that the deportation of some pastors or church ministries was causing panic to members of their congregations who lost spiritual and theological leaders critical for the advancement of their churches in Botswana.

Aand if so, the minister should state the general reasons for the deportation, reasons they give for their tour of duty in Botswana, the number of pastor/church minister deported in the last five years, which church had most of its pastor/church Ministers deported and the number of those who took or intend to take up citizenship in Botswana. Ends