The removal of the exemption means that unlike before when churches could engage pastors as their work and residence permits were being processed, non-citizen pastors will also have to apply for the permits beforehand.

Says a statement from the Ministry of Labour and Home  Affairs released last week:
"As a result of the removal of the exemption, those whose residence permits have expired or will be expiring are required to apply for work permits upon renewal of their residence permits.

"It is recommended that such applications should be lodged about six months before expiry and renewal to avoid inconvenience."

Moruakgomo says the move will encourage young Batswana to choose theology as a career and calls for the establishment of more training centres for pastors and for existing facilities to introduce higher levels of training since the University of Botswana alone cannot cope.

He says Botswana churches need to develop local capacity and that the leadership of each church must contribute to national issues.

The outspoken clergyman says he knows of several multi-national churches that prefer to engage the services of non-citizens at the expense of Batswana. Some of these churches, says Moruakgomo, are run from neighbouring countries such as South Africa where decisions are made for the worshippers in Botswana.

This continues to happen when Batswana have proved to be good spiritual leaders, he says, citing the Spiritual Healing Church, and the Revelation Blessed Peace Church that are headquartered in Matsiloje and Kgagodi respectively.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at the University of Botswana (UB), Dr Siedlis Nkomazana, says churches send very few students for training, "less than five per annum". Nkomazana says his department produces graduates, who are absorbed in other fields such as teaching and administration.

The department's curriculum is not limited to the Bible and church ministering courses, which could be the reason some churches do not send aspiring priests for training at UB, he says.

Meanwhile, many in the clergy have welcomed the removal of the exemption, saying more expatriates were now targeting Botswana as a destination for profiteering in the name of God.

One of the seven priests who were suspended from practice by the Anglican Church early this year, says the removal of the exemption will make Botswana churches more governable.  The seven priests took the matter to the High Court in Lobatse where they asserted that they were suspended to make way for expatriate priests. The High Court ruled in their favour and ordered their immediate reinstatement.