Botswana is a de facto Christian, though a dejure secular state!

Recently one MP is reported to have suggested that Botswana should be declared a Christian, instead of a secular state as she is known. I wondered whether the MP implied that the secular status under which she is known, is a curse, a blasphemy or she/he was simply expressing dislike of religious tolerance that secularism conveys.

What was the motivation? I mused that if Batswana succumbed to the idea of a Christian instead of a secular state, we would sooner have another MP suggesting that we have a Catholic/Anglican/Methodist/ZCC state. Botswana is a land of many religions and denominations and each sect basically wishes to dominate the religious circuit. All and each one of us wishes to project a peculiar image. Human nature?

The constitution of Botswana doesn’t have a section which defines Botswana as a secular state in a nutshell. The wording of Section 11 (1) is explicit however. It reads: “Except with his or her own consent, no person shall be hindered in the enjoyment of his or her freedom of conscience, and for the purpose of this section the said freedom includes freedom of thought and of religion or belief, freedom to change his or her religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others, and both in public and in private, to manifest and propagate his or her religion or belief in worship, teaching, practice or observance. …”

Editor's Comment
BDF visitation approval a welcome development

BDF camps are military camps, and there is a need for stricter rules and regulations to safeguard their operations as well as ensure the safety of civilians. Of course, military personnel are human, and they have relatives as well as girlfriends and boyfriends, but the fact remains that the BDF is responsible for ensuring national security and stability and, as such, will be one of the first targets in the event of possible attacks. The decision...

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