Churches ordered to vacate Sowa land

Tebogo Kgalemang
Correspondent | Monday April 18, 2011 00:00

The judge stated that the land is being serviced for allocation on lease terms for purposes of industrial businesses or works. He ruled on April 8, 2011 that the churches should vacate the land within seven days of service of the court order and the state regains its undisturbed ownership and possession. 'The government of Botswana is authorised and it shall be at liberty to demolish any structures erected by these churches on the said state land, upon the expiration of seven days of service of this order on the churches.'

On June 2010, the Attorney General wrote to Committee Secretary of Sowa Ministers Fraternal instructing the churches to vacate the land within 30 days. The Ministers Fraternal then requested that they be given 90 days to look for land in other parts Sowa Town for possible allocation.

'We hoped that after SHHAA residential plots were complete, the council was going to look into the plight of other church denominations,' the churches replied to the letter written by the AG.

The churches indicated that there was only one church plot allocated. They said church activities were carried out in occupied mine and council houses and that has caused problems to the mining employees.

They said it was then that churches were given permission to worship on the land in question. Some of the churches holding prayers at the land are Zion Christian Church; African Born Full Gospel Church; Atla Sa Morena; St Matthews Faith Mission Church; St John Apostolic Faith Mission; Eloyi Christian Church; Head Mountain Church and Jordan Hosana Church, the Followers of Jesus; Revelation Blessed Peace of Botswana and Healing Church.

Others are Faith Gospel After Christ; St John Faith Mission; Methodist Church; Hosana Association Church; Naledi Church; Apostles of Jesus Christ; Seventh Day Adventist Church; Holy Bontle Apostolic Church in Zion; True Gospel Christian Fellowship; Old Apostolic Church; The Homeland Church in Botswana and Spiritual Healing Church.