05 Feb 2013

Churches' illegal occupation of land worries the Francistown City Council, says the city clerk, Mr Charles Amos.

Speaking in a meeting addressed by the mayor of Francistown, Mr James Kgalajwe on Monday, Mr Amos said there were many churches in the city that operated in spaces that they did not acquire legally.

Mr Amos implored the churches to cooperate with the council and relocate, explaining that bye-law officers would visit them to ensure that they were occupying spaces obtained legally.

He observed that some churches that had occupied plots legally still failed to ensure that their architectural plans were approved by the council before they could carry out construction.

The city clerk implored churches to work with the government in ensuring that criminals do not use the word of God to swindle people of their hard earned cash and property.

He also raised concern about churches that discouraged their members from using medication prescribed to them by medical practitioners.

Councillor Kgalajwe called on churches to work in partnership with the government in eradicating social ills such as crime, high rates of divorce and alcohol abuse.

He said if the church did not play its role in moulding citizens psychologically and spiritually, the anticipated results of a complete human being would never be attained. Councillor Kgalajwe decried that problems such as alcohol abuse led people to shun economic empowerment programmes thereby thwarting efforts geared towards eradicating poverty.

He said that churches could also help address the problem of voter apathy because in some instances it was the churches that discouraged their members from voting.

“As a church you should encourage your members to excise their constitutional right and vote in elections,” said councillor Kgalajwe. He also implored them to invite the Independent Electoral Commission and government departments to come and address them on issues and programmes that could benefit their members.

He implored them to open bank accounts for churches, ensure their books of accounts are audited and to always submit annual returns to the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs.

Mr Othusitse Mojuta of General Foundation Apostolic Church, decried the lack of land in Francistown, saying a lot of registered churches had no places of worship.

He implored the council to consider allowing them to temporarily worship in the spaces they were occupying illegally until a permanent solution had been found.

Another pastor, Reverend John Ramotshabi applauded the mayor for recognising the role played by churches and considering them as stakeholders in the development of the city.

He lamented that the church was suffering a lot at the hands of leaders. Pastor Ramotshabi lamented that currently churches were expected to compete with businesses in tendering for land allocations.

He implored the church to refrain from squatting and to try and raise funds for acquiring plots through tithes, offerings and other lawful means of raising funds. ENDS