No to Bill No.29, save marriages – EFB
Nnasaretha Kgamanyane | Tuesday July 25, 2023 06:00
This comes after the Christian community under EFB made it public at a press conference held in Gaborone that its members were strongly against homosexual practices.
At the march, they made statements chanting “No to Bill 29! Save our country, save Botswana! Save marriages and save families! Save our children! No to man-to-man relationships and no to woman-to-woman relationships!” Reading out the petition, EFB’s Pastor Pulafela Siele stated that the EFB in collaboration with the public and Christians from different walks of life found it fit to write a petition against the stated Bill.
He explained that EFB held the Bible in its entirety as God’s inspired truth to humanity with supreme authority in every matter of belief and conduct. He added that they believed that the Bible has pivotal moral fibre ideals for every society including Botswana adding that it had been so for generations. “EFB is fully aware that the Court of Appeal (CoA) of Botswana issued a judgment to decriminalise homosexual conduct. The same judgment declares Section 164(a) and Section 164(c) of the Penal Code unconstitutional and to be scrapped consequently.
The Minister of Justice drafted Bill No.29 of 2022 whose objective is to amend by deletion of Section 164(a) and Section 164(c) as per CoA’s decision.” “We believe that as the Parliament is to act as required by the Bill, such an action will open flood gates of immorality, abomination in the nation such as same-sex marriage, change school curriculum to teach our children such practices,” he said.
He further said the new Bill would impede procreation (childbearing), and institute laws that label redemptive gospel as hate speech. He also said EFB believed that the Bible has a pivotal moral standard ideal for Botswana and any other God-fearing believing nation.
Siele also explained that the Bible was the word of God that aborts homosexuality adding that it was the duty of EFB as a Christian organisation to maintain the biblical standard and stand against homosexuality. The pastor also said homosexuality in whatever form it was practised was a sinful, ungodly, and unacceptable practice. He added that the same Bible Members of Parliament (MPs), judges, magistrates, the Judiciary and even the President used to take an oath with were strongly against homosexuality.
He added that their using the Bible to take an oath was a clear indication that they believed in the Word and that it was evident that God was their ruler, therefore, meaning they lived and believed in His guidance.
“We are all aware of the pressure put on African countries including Botswana to enact such laws. It is noteworthy that we are not at all ready for that. It was even an argument that was made by the Attorney General before CoA that Batswana are not ready for such a law. “Botswana is given liberty to exist as such and that should not be changed. We urge our Parliament on this matter upon the wishes of the majority of our nation, if by any means this comes by a vote, we urge all MPs to vote no!” he added.
After receiving the petition, Francistown South MP Wynter Mmolotsi said they would present the petition before Parliament. He told Christians to thank themselves for standing for their beliefs. He added there should be times when people stand up and fight for what they believed in. Mmolotsi also said hiding people’s beliefs made it hard for them to fight on their behalf. “It seems like you have woken up. This petition shows that when things get out of hand you will show up. As a Christian, what I was taught cannot be untaught. I grew up in a Christian family from ZCC to my current church,” he said.