Of pastors and politics

Onalenna Kelebeile | Friday December 13, 2013 17:16

In the ruling Botswana Democratic Party, there were the likes of Pastor Biggie Ganda Butale of End Time Ministries beat among others Pastor Peter Ngoma in the Tati West constituency; Methodist Church’s Reverend Mpho Moruakgomo and UCCSA priests Dr John Seakgosing, Rupert Hambira and Ben Stegling and lay preacher Pono Moatlhodi, who lost to Bible Life pastor Thapelo Olopeng.

Then in the Botswana National Front, there are the likes of Reverend Dr Prince Dibeela who is contesting the Mathethe-Molapowabojang primaries.

Does the flock to politics by the clergy mean our political landscape will see a clean sweep of the dirt that characterises freedom squares? Or would we see no change, as the ‘world’ swallows the teaching of Christ.

But if the battles in the BDP Bulela Ditswe are to go by, then there is very little men of the cloth are bringing to change things. Candidates were heard speaking ill of their opponents in their house-to-house missions.

In Tati West, voters even wondered if Pastors Butale and Ngoma had suspended their sermons albeit temporarily for dirty campaigns.

Butale emerged victories in the tense race, beating Ngoma, Farayi Bonyongo, Damien Thapa, Ruth Nyathi, Robert Muzila and Robert Nfila.

Reverend Moruakgomo’s tactics won him Mochudi East candidature against Shangano Sokona Kubanji and Kennedy Kazi Matlhape.

While Reverend Seakgosing, the minister of Health lost convincingly to Tshenolo Mabeo, his opponents had decried the fact that he was ‘buying’ votes with the presidential blankets and other goodies. Moatlhodi, the deputy speaker of Parliament had gone on record many times accusing Olopeng of using underhand tactics. At one point, it was reported that the two got into a near fistfight.

Mmegi spoke to two leading Christians on pastors dabbling in politics, and what was expected of them.

Newspaper columnist and a social work lecturer at University of Botswana (UB) Log Raditlhokwa, who was recently anointed church elder, said that voters should be able to discern a politician who has been called by God from any other politician.

From his observation, Raditlhokwa, who before becoming active Christian was in the opposition politics, said the current crop of these leaders have not been exemplary.  He said a man of the cloth is called by God serve in matters of the Church.

“This is why it is safe to assume that the same person cannot make a move to the political side without being released by God to go into politics and right some wrongs in line with his Word.

“If a pastor goes without being released by God, then he is doing it on his own. But what has to happen is that God has to guide you to say ‘go into politics and change it using my Word’,” he said.

Raditlhokwa said that is the only time when the people can be able to differentiate a ‘flesh politician’ from a ‘spiritual politician’.

Unfortunately in Botswana, said Raditlhokwa, one cannot tell politicians apart as they mostly act the same.

“People also find it hard to respect them because except themselves declaring themselves as pastors, they are not really showing anything that they have been called by God,” he added.

Raditlhokwa referred to the book of Matthews, chapter four, where Satan tried three times to tempt Jesus in the wilderness.

In his third temptation, in verses eight and nine, Satan promised Jesus the riches of the world if he were to bow down to the Devil.

Raditlhokwa said that some pastors could be entrapped into this.

“The devil can tell you that you should go and represent God in politics while he is just tricking you to leave the work of God. If you cannot heed God you will go,” he said.

The president of Evangelical Fellowship Botswana (EFB), Pastor Master Obololetswe Matlhaope said that there were two important points in this issue.

Firstly, he said, Christians have a responsibility to stand up for the people.

“As Christians we have a responsibility in the nation and politics are part of the aspect on nation building, and on that premise there is nothing wrong with a man of God joining politics,” he said.

He said that people have for a long time said that politics are dirty.

“So as Christians are we comfortable leaving them dirty as they are? Or we can try to clean them up?” he wondered.

He said that there are issues of human rights, of equity, egalitarianism, and issues of budget and that Christians need to clean up without sycophancy.

“Christians need to act on conviction regarding these issues without worrying about tribalism, sexism and all these other things that are affecting governments at the moment.

“They need to stand for the Christian conviction,” he said.

 He said that nations have collapsed while Christians stood by and watched.

Matlhaope said that an important factor though is that a pastor should remember that they are leading a flock, people belonging to different political parties.

“Now if you as the pastor also have made your political denomination public and known and you are active it is easier to step aside and let someone who is not active in politics take over and lead the flock,” he said.

He said if it not handled in that manner a lot can be compromised and the people could simply believe that you take them for granted.

“When you step down it will show the people that you respect them and that you actually care,” he added.