01 Apr 2024

Churches have been encouraged to take advantage of various government programmes to enhance the well-being of their members.

Speaking during Easter fellowship services at Healing Saint Apostolic Church and River Jordan Church in Christ in Shoshong, Mr Aubrey Lesaso, the MP of Shoshong, highlighted temo-letlotlo,  women’s economic empowerment, and Chema Chema as key programmes with the potential to positively impact the economic status of the congregants.

Regarding the women’s  economic empowerment programmes, Mr Lesaso said it was  designed to assist groups of women in obtaining  money to start income-generating projects.

Therefore, he urged congregants  to form syndicates, clusters, and cooperatives to benefit from the Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) for personal development and community betterment.

Temo letlotlo, according to Mr Lesaso is a productivity-output reward-based agro-ecological programme aim to enhance food security in Botswana. This program, developed by Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) and managed by National Development Bank, focuses on revitalising arable farming towards a more commercial approach to improve lives.

Thuo letlotlo, set for launch in the 2024–2025 financial year, aims to boost the country’s animal production sector by expanding the national herd, offering congregants a promising opportunity.

Mr Lesaso also highlighted the recently increased Chema Chema Fund, now at P500 million, which targets transforming the informal sector and supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses. “The programme aims to fundamentally transforming the informal sector and providing the necessary financial support to entrepreneurs and small businesses, he said

For his part, Archbishop Tshenolo Pansiri stressed the church’s responsibility in praying for peace, harmony, and democracy.

He emphasised the importance of unity, morality, and the church as a safe haven for all members of society. Additionally, he said christians  should be exemplary in displaying high level of unity and Botho.

Archbishop Pansiri said churches should be places of refuge for all members of society and all nations.

Also at the event, Bishop Vein Garebaitse of River Jordan Church in Christ underscored the importance of church transparency, adherence to democratic principles, and the sharing of the gospel for more people to embrace Christ.

The Easter fellowship services commenced with a moment of silence to honor the 45 people who lost their lives in a tragic bus accident in Limpopo province, South Africa, on their way to Moria for Easter pilgrimage. Ends