BCC attack govt�s �pro-rich agenda�
Tefo Pheage | Tuesday February 9, 2016 12:39
The church body said the budget had nothing for the poor. Pastors who spoke at the meeting dealt with issues such as education, civil servants poor working conditions and poor education. Some clergymen asked why national leaders did not take their children to public schools.
“The church throughout the world still remains the only hope for the disadvantaged, disenfranchised and maginalised,” Rev Mpho Moruakgomo, the former BCC chairman said. “The poor expect the church to speak and speak without fear or favour.”
Rev Thuso Tiego of the UCCSA said the government did little to protect children from the hostility between teachers and the government.
“The students fail year after year and it is business as usual,” he said. “The unions and the government fight every minute and nothing seems to be changing and it is the poor souls who get hard hit.”
Another pastor, Rupert Hambira, said, “We must speak and not only speak but seen to be proactive as all these injustices unfold.”
The budget analiser, Obuseng Sennye, who was engaged by BCC said there was nothing much to celebrate from the budget for churches and their agenda.
Sennye said Botswana’s economic situation remained unsatisfactory.
Makgalemele promised to look into the concerns raised by the churches.
“I will engage my office so that we may call you to a meeting for dialogue over these issues,” he said.