Close to 2,000 churches registered
| Thursday July 31, 2014 11:46
Response: My ministry has registered 1,820 churches and de-registered 44 churches since the beginning of the National Development Plan 10;
“The above figures communicate mushrooming of churches, which is serious concern that needs monitoring to ensure that the number of churches does not overwhelm the nation eventually becoming victims of mal-practice by some of them”,
He said on the other hand the figures indicate a rise in the number of people being converted to Christianity, which assists in addressing the morality of the country. A lot of churches that are being registered are a result of infighting which has led to splinter churches.
This trait is difficult to control given the exercise of the constitutional right of freedom of association by those who establish the churches.
The emerging trend of commercialisation of churches has the danger of depleting the socioeconomic fabric that a church is expected to build .
“My ministry is aware of the concerns raised by Batswana on the mushrooming and the conduct of some churches and we are equally concerned about this development and the ministry is monitoring it on a continuous basis”,
The concerns raised by members of Ntlo ya Dikgosi during Parliament were that the mushrooming of some churches is primarily for individual economic gain and not necessarily for the spreading of the word of God, and spiritual upliftment as it should be.
The noise made by such churches disregarding peace and tranquility enjoyed by other citizens.
The unhygienic practices by those who worship in ungazatted places, creating health hazards on account of lack of proper ablution and sanitation.
The location of some of the churches in places that are not designed for this purpose, contravening by-laws of local authorities, such as littering and contaminating the environment.
The hazards posed to the members ‘lives by those who carry out the practice of baptism in the rivers, resulting in the drowning of members of the churches.
The specific steps taken by my ministry to address the problems are in terms of policy; the ministry is reviewing the Societies Act to among other things establish an Advisory and Arbitration Council, an upward revision for the threshold for registration of societies, and an increase in penalty fees for violation of various sections of the Societies Act. The proposed amendment awaits Cabinet approval.
Further my ministry has introduced a new model constitution to strengthen governance structures to ensure accountability and transparency within the churches as well as to ensure strengthened membership participation in decision-making process.
Workshops and consultations have been held by my ministry to educate the churches regarding conduct within the church, and to solicit stakeholder feedback on resolving the concerns raised.
MoESD not happy
with School of Deaf
Question: Wynter Mmolotsi
l How much subvention is given to the school of the deaf in Francistown annually;
What this subvention is intended to cover; Whether his ministry has a way of monitoring how this money is used, and if he is satisfied with the way the schools for the deaf are run.
Response: The Ministry of Education and Skills development ( MoESD) has given Francistown Center for Deaf Education P2,351,942 as annual subvention for the financial year 2014/15.
The subvention is meant to cover amongst others salaries Wages and Allowance and administration and Office operations
She said there is an inter-Ministerial monitoring team in place and it comprises of officers from line ministries including the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Presidential Affairs and Public administration..
“I am not entirely happy with the way the schools for the deaf are run, hence we are in the process of singing Memoranda of Agreement with the two schools owned and administered by the Botswana Society for the Deaf to improve accountability. The Memoranda of Agreement will also bind both parties to fulfil their obligations. We are also facilitating the re-establishment of the “School Management Committee” for two schools”
Occasional sewage
over-spillages
Question: Kagiso Molatlhegi asked the Minister of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources to brief the House on whether he was aware of the continuous over-spilling of sewerage drains in Old Naledi and Extension 14 in Gaborone, what causes the over-spilling given that only a few households are connected to the system and what action he will take to correct the problem which poses a serious health hazard.
Response: My ministry is aware of the occasional sewage over-spillages and stenches in Old Naledi and Extension 14 in Gaborone.
The recurring over-spillages in Old Naledi and Extension 14 is due to blockages experienced in SHAA area mainly as a result of the low network flows due to few household connectivity in the areas.
A sewer system needs a minimum sewage flow to enable self cleaning of the sewer pipes which is not the case at the moment, Furthermore the introduction of foreign materials such as stones, garden waste by members of the community and certain products from some industries has fuelled these over-spillages.
Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) cleans the sewer lines regularly in problematic spots, attends to pipe bursts as and when they are reported and continues to engage the parties that have been identified as the main cause of the inefficient operation of the sewer system with a view to educating them on the impacts of introducing foreign material into the sewer system so that they desist from such practice.