09 Oct 2023

The church is a formidable structure of society that is rightly positioned to engage parents in guiding children towards adopting responsible behaviour.

Thus, it must liaise with parents, to come up with interventions that will guide children towards adopting responsible and positive behaviour.

The statement was made by President, Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi during a courtesy call by Botswana Council of Churches (BCC) at his office on Monday.

Dr Masisi said the church could do a lot in encouraging parents to fully attend to and instill discipline in their children.

He said it was unfortunate to observe that most parents were comfortable with spending little time with their children and as such, living the tutelage responsibility to the school.

The current situation of indiscipline among children, to an extent that they are fond of vandalising school property, which is never the case at home or at church, must be taken seriously, President Masisi said and urged the church leadership to engage parents so that they could own full responsibility of their children’s mentorship.

He said raising responsible children was for the general good of the society of which the church was part and parcel.

President Masisi said it was a known fact that children behaved relatively well when at school, and only regressed during school holidays when under complete care of their parents.

He concurred with BCC that the use of habit-forming drugs, gender-based violence and other social ills were challenges that could not be disputed and encouraged the church to use its influence in the society and rope in all other stakeholders, to form a strong view that would broaden the appeal of reforming by adopting positive behaviour that would result in a united and ethical society.

Another common challenge he observed was that the majority of families were led by single parents, therefore, children lacked the guidance and love of both parents, with some raised under strenuous circumstances because single parenting was overwhelming.

Through the guidance of the church, President Masisi said the society must focus on encouraging mostly fathers who had left women with a heavy burden of raising children alone, to revert to having a sound input in the upbringing of their children.

He said those not partaking in the welfare, guidance and needs of their children must be called to order as every child deserved to have a functional family.

He praised the good work being done by the church since it was for public good.

President Masisi said his office and government as a whole were concerned by road accidents claiming the lives of many people and appealed to the church to intensify campaigns against road accidents, which were fueled by among others, lack of adherence to traffic regulations and reckless behaviours on the road.

Dr Masisi concurred with the church that the mindset change drive concept must be embraced by all, not only to address societal challenges, but to equally build a robust nation, able to achieve the desired goal of prosperity for all.

BCC vice president, Reverend Mosweu Simane said the church leadership wanted to give an update on their activities as well as pray with the President and the nation.

Rev. Simane said since the previous courtesy call, the BCC had noted some commendable efforts that were done by Dr Masisi in guiding the nation as well as some impeding societal challenges. 

He applauded Dr Masisi for engaging the nations on programmes and activities aimed at improving the general welfare of the people.

The BCC also appreciated Dr Masisi for recognising the contribution of the church to the society by awarding some of the church leaders in the likes of Rev. Gabriel Tsuaneng, Rev. Mpho Moruakgomo as well as Bishop Metlhayotlhe Beleme.

He said the church had been and would continue its role in every aspect of the development agenda.

Rev. Simane applauded President Masisi’s Mindset Change initiative as it was in line with the mandate of the church.

The BCC has also observed with concern, increasing social challenges such as road accidents claiming the lives of many people and Rev. Simane said the church and other sectors would continue with campaigns to curb such.

He said another notable epidemic was the increasing intake of drugs and other habit-forming substances which was fueling social ills. 

“We will not rest but continue to use all available platforms to condemn all forms of challenges diminishing our people,” he said.

At community level, Rev. Simane said the church was involved in the education and health system, even though concerned by the degrading behaviour of students and poor results as well as shortage of health amenities.

As such, he said the Christian  fraternity under the tutelage of BCC was planning to organise an Education Symposium, which would engage government and any other relevant stakeholder with the view to improve education.

“We are part of the education system. All stakeholders must come together and join hands on issues relating to the future of our children. 

Our children appear to be on the right direction while at school, but the environment outside the school yard appears not to be doing enough to restore what they have been taught at school,” he said. Ends