Through trials and tribulations: The Right Reverend speaks
Zolani Kraai | Friday May 5, 2017 14:40
Bishop Beleme never had it easy. Born sixth in a family of eight children, his was the dictionary definition of ‘humble beginnings’. Matters took a turn for the worse in 1968 when the Bishop was six, as his hardworking father collapsed and died while working in the fields.
Like many other Batswana at the time, the older Beleme had also worked in the South African mines and his death touched his sixth-born deeply. It also plunged the family into dire straits.
“I grew up from the humble beginnings and my mother was left alone to fend for us when my father died,” the Right Reverend remembers, with visible emotion.
“After the death of our father, our mother fought hard to take us to school as she had no formal employment to raise the school fees.
“Back then, school fees had to be paid fully and my mother could not raise the funds. I remember the time when we had to stay home for three months because she could not afford to raise school fees.”
Bishop Metlha, as some Anglican congregants prefer to call him, eventually completed his primary and secondary schooling in Molepolole between 1970 and 1981 respectively at Kealeboga Primary and Kgari Sechele respectively, before enrolling as an artisan trainee between 1982 and 1985, at Debswana Training Centre in Orapa.
“I am a qualified Artisan Electrician and I received my National Craft Certificate in 1986. I fix everything in the household, what we call it DIY or Do It Yourself,” the Bishop says with a warm-hearted smile.
The calling to God was growing louder every minute, however and even though Debswana’s Jwaneng Mine hired Beleme upon completion of his studies, he was destined for a different path. Even though the salary was good and enabled him to support his mother back in Molepolole, Bishop Metlha only lasted two years with the diamond mine.
“While I was on leave, I woke up one morning, took a pen and paper and wrote a letter of resignation to my employer.
“I resigned as a Charge Hand or Assistant Foreman, and because my calling was so urgent, I decided to fax my resignation letter. That was that, until today and I have never looked back.”
For someone who had grown up in difficulty, turning his back on a promising career with a diamond mine may have appeared foolhardy, but the young Beleme soldiered on after his calling and proceeded to study Theology at Letlapa la Jesu Seminary and National University of Lesotho between 1990 and 1992. Thereafter, he was ordained a deacon at the end of 1992 and then a priest in 1993.
He was then posted to the Francistown Parish, which covered Orapa, Makaleng, Moroka, Matsiloje and Tati Siding. While in Francistown, he learnt and grew spiritually to become an Assistant Priest, Priest (Rector) and would later become Archdeacon, a position that tasked him with responsibilities of overseeing all Northern Botswana Parishes.
Years later, in 2001, Beleme was transferred on promotion from Francistown to the Holy Cross Cathedral in Gaborone, as Sub-Dean. His hard work and devotion drew the attention of his principals and he was sent for further studies in Switzerland, Geneva. Between 2003 and 2004, Beleme studied Ecumenism, at the World Council of Churches Ecumenical Institute (BOSSEY) in collaboration with the University of Geneva.
Indeed, more than a decade after leaving Jwaneng, Bishop Metlha appeared finally to have justified his break from a blue-collar career. However, more difficulties were around the corner. In 2005, the Anglican Church in Botswana underwent a change in Episcopacy, with a new Bishop, Trevor Mwamba, elected. The Right Reverend does not mince his words and reveals that the relationship with the then Bishop was strained. “We were not happy with many decisions he made. Within no time, in 2006, I was transferred to Tlokweng, St Frinen of Cyrene, but before going there, I had refused to be transferred to Molepolole. I felt it was not proper for me to go and serve the community that I come from as I would be conflicted in many respects. It was while I was in Tlokweng that my working relationship with bagolo soured. I decided to not keep fighting and instead decided to bid my colleagues and friends farewell,” the Bishop says. With the support of his wife, Bishop Beleme left Botswana in August 2007 and headed to Klerksdorp, South Africa to work as Dean of the Cathedral of the Resurrection in Ikageng, Potchefstroom While there, six years later in 2013, Beleme was elected the head of Anglican Church in Botswana, succeeding Mwamba, which he says was a turning point in his life. He returned home and began a new chapter in his life and service to the Lord.
Beleme says his main duty is to act as Chief Shepherd and spiritual Father of the Dioceses.
“My work is very practical and theological and that is why as a Bishop, I am called to be a pastor, preacher, teacher, missionary, liturgical person, focus of unity administrator, scholar and saint. I am the fifth Motswana by birth to be a Bishop and I was elected in 2013. I have since realised that there is so much that needs to be done to grow the church, and as a collective we can achieve more.
I am also cautiously working on restructuring the church governance and ensuring that the welfare of the clergy is given priority. That is key to the success of the implementation of our strategic plan,” he says. Bishop Beleme says his focus is now on growing and modernising the Church, while pushing for its self-sustenance. Issues such as shortage of clergy and motivating more men into governance structures dominated by women, are some of his targets in the short term.
“Dioceses headship and the Anglican Theological College have intensified recruitment of priests. We are not just recruiting for the sake of having numbers but we want to ensure that we attract committed full time priests that will be taken care of by the respective parishes across the country, sustainably. We lack fulltime priests and our stipends are low. Our church still has low wages when compared to other mainstream churches, but at the same time the cost of living is too high.”
Already, he has notched up some achievements since in investiture in 2013. He assumed the presidency of the Botswana Council of Churches (BCC) in October 2015, on a three-year term of office and says the relationship among churches is “fairly good”. Recently, he was invited to the Office of the President to pray for President Ian Khama.
“I would have appreciated it more if I had prayed for him in front of the Anglicans, but his work schedule is just too tight. He is such a wonderful man and we will continue to pray for him as the Anglican Church even when his tenure as President of the country lapses,” he says.
Bishop Beleme also led the President’s call for Thanksgiving prayers after the recent bumper rains during a ceremony held at Gaborone Dam. The Right Reverend says he is not affiliated to any political party but rather his focus is on uniting people and ministering to all regardless of party affiliation.
“Naturally the church is a place where different party affiliates come together for a common cause, say to pray for peace and tranquillity in the country. It would be divisive for me, I think, to be associated with any party. I do vote however though during elections,” he says.
Decades after his beginnings in Difetlhamolelo ward in Molepolole and overcoming difficulties through the years, Bishop Beleme is contributing to a united, faithful nation.