ZCC St-Engenas factions affect church re-registration in Botswana
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Tuesday May 28, 2024 06:00
The church’s existence and operations are governed by the Societies Act of 2022.
However, internal conflicts within the church have resulted in two factions, each seeking to operate independently and register separately, despite being part of the same organisation.
Therefore, both factions are currently operating illegally under Botswana law. A letter dated May 15, 2024, addressed to David Matsetse from the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs, states: 'This means each of these two groups is recognised by the Moria Head Office as per documentation.' 'The prevailing scenario, where each group identifies itself as the rightful entity to be issued a registration certificate, makes it difficult for the Ministry to proceed, even before compliance issues are considered,' the letter explains. According to the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Pule Opelo, this is so because only one church is to be issued with a registration certificate irrespective of the number of local branches it may have.
Opelo emphasised that the position of the Ministry and consistent with the laws is that a society, or a church in this case, with affiliation to headquarters or spiritual leadership outside the country is allowed to exist in the country within the dictates of the law so long as it fulfils all other conditions and requirements necessary for its establishment and operation.
'The Ministry has therefore undertaken to advise you to engage your headquarters and/or reconsider your submission alongside the other group and make a single submission for a recognised ZCC St Engenas church in Botswana for re-registration,' Opelo continued.. Furthermore, the Ministry indicated that over time, it received another local leadership of the Church led by Oreeditse Molebatsi who also produced letters from Moria City that recognised him and his team as the rightful representatives of the ZCC-St Engenas in Botswana.
Attorney Jerome Matomela said as things stand, ZCC-St Engenas is operating illegally in the country as they have to regularise with Botswana laws to operate legally.
'The two camps need to be met so that they are legally recognised under the Society Act, failure to do so, might cost them big time. With the new Society Act, it looks like some churches are having difficulties to re-register and that might make some close down if they fail to re-register,' he explained. Matomela said whatever decisions made by illegal churches or organisations cannot be recognised.