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SHAME: Nigerians Followed by Zambians Top the List Of Pastors Being Deported From Botswana
Government would rather tolerate it when citizen pastors misbehave as opposed to foreigners, a government official has said.
In an exclusive interview with The Midweek Sun on Monday, Director of Immigration, Mabuse Pule spoke with burning anger about the findings of government on the mushrooming of foreign churches. “They come here to abuse God, our people and to push their personal agendas,” he said. He uses the Biblical analogy in Matthew 7:15 which likens such people to wolves in sheep’s clothing. According to Pule, Botswana is facing the Biblical end times season, which explains why many pastors from outside are flocking into the country for personal gain. Immigration records on Prohibited Immigrants show that pastors top the list.
This year one pastor was deported. Last year, they recorded three PIs, and Pule states that on average, one or two are pastors every year. Nigerians, followed by Zambians and Zimbabweans are the most deported pastors. He says that foreign pastors who threaten the national security are mostly those who are involved in money laundering and financial epilepsy, rampant drug dealing, womanising in the church, fighting for power and failure to submit annual returns as required by the law. The worst, he says are pastors who often preach ill about president Ian Khama, the Directorate of Intelligence Services and government in general.
“For as long as they will continue to destroy the peace of this country, we will continue to deport them,” he says. He cautions that pastors should not come near church money but rather depend on the church’s finance department for financial feedback. Actually, he informs church members that every church should have an independent auditing firm and annual general meetings should be held for them to be given feedback on how their money is being spent. He reveals that church members often come to report these acts of misconduct to them, upon which they will carry out their own investigations. “The truth is every pastor knows what he or she does in secret, and when we find out their dirt, we send them out of our way,” he says. Pule recalls how at times some foreign pastors come to his office to plead for forgiveness after agreeing with the findings. However, he says that they should know that government would never deport a clean pastor.
Citadel pastor deported
This year May, government declared Ghanaian Pastor Felix Larson of the Christ Citadel International Church of Botswana a prohibited immigrant after his superiors from the church headquarters in Ghana told Botswana government that he was not remitting money to them as required from him as a branch leader but rather using it on himself. Reliable sources say he had been in Botswana for over 12 years. “They told us that he was using it for his personal gain and living a luxurious life,” says Pule. The church has since advertised his position. According to the online advert, the ordained reverend minister must have a minimum qualification of Masters in Divinity and should possess apostolic, deliverance and prophetic calling, with over 25 years experience in church planting.
Responsibilities include, to oversee explore, train, develop, serve and empower Batswana in spiritual matters. In addition, he should be married for more than 20 years with current membership of over 500.
Is government attacking foreign pastors?
A foreign pastor who chose anonymity wags a finger at the government of Botswana for bringing confusion in churches. He says that government should leave them alone to do the work of God because God called them into this country. “Not all of us are bad but again, government should stop intimidating us,” he says. He adds that Batswana pastors are not as charismatic and powerful like them hence citizens migrate to their churches as opposed to citizen run churches. An attendant of his church confirmed this and said before she joined his church, she was struggling to grow spiritually and materially. “Foreign pastors run churches with dynamism, flexibility, vibe, fire and preach prosperity which our Batswana pastors avoid,” she says, adding that citizens do not deliver and do miracles though they are gifts from God. But for Pule, this explains why there is tension between the two pastors. He says that he receives reports from church members complaining that their pastors feel Batswana men of God are mediocre and not up to scratch.
“These pastors even group themselves and see our own pastors as outcasts in their own country,” he says. On the same issue, he states that foreign pastors who feel local media is conniving with government to attack them are offended because they are guilty. He says that media plays a watchdog role.
Are Batswana ignorant?
When Gaborone based church New Seasons church pastor Francis Sakufiwa was deported last year, the church laity was furious to put it mildly. Investigations carried out by this publication showed that he was into women and had left many with severe heartbreaks. Pule blames Batswana for tolerating indecency in the church. He reveals that after the incident, nine women came to his office to ask him to plead for mercy from president Khama.
“They said that he is highly anointed and that we should reverse the decision,” he says, also urging Batswana to be vigilant at all times. Currently, Botswana does not have a deliberate localisation programme on pastors. However, Pule mentions that they will soon introduce it. “God does not bring crooks here and we are not going to allow anyone to deceive our people using his name,” he says. The thought is not new.
Former minister of Labour and Home Affairs Peter Siele and Ntlo ya Dikgosi deputy chairperson Kgosi Lotlamoreng II started the motion in 2010 and 2011 respectively over concerns of issues of expatriate pastors defrauding Batswana.
Posted by Editor
on October 9, 2013. Filed under LATEST NEWS.
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Wakanika
October 9, 2013 at 6:52 am
All pentecostal pastors ar crooks including tb joshua. Surely why shud a church be a money making biznss.
osward mwaisumo
October 9, 2013 at 7:43 am
pentecostal churches are now registering with PACRA.what a shame. are churches now a business? honestly, what are they calling these businesses because its all about offerings and tithe. do they pay tax and how do they calculate profits. am confused anyway
mwendabwangu
October 9, 2013 at 8:04 am
watchtower, SDA, Catholic, UCZ, etc, are all with PACRA. Knowledge bwana research pls.
jane
October 9, 2013 at 11:05 am
But did you refer to these churches….. leave the body of christ alone.
naturi
October 9, 2013 at 7:54 am
not all of them are crooks guy
Felix Larson
October 9, 2013 at 9:03 am
Is this Pule related to Danny Pule? I rest my case.
kazeze
October 9, 2013 at 9:23 am
Pule is a common name among the Batswana, Basotho, Bapedi and even the Tsongas. So you will find this name in Botswana, Lesotho and South Africa.
RISE OF THE CULTS: WHERE DID ALL THESE STRANGE RELIGIOUS SECTS COME FROM?
October 9, 2013 at 9:44 am
Imagine if Jesus was around driving in a Hummer or private jet, with a whore like wife on his arm wearing fake nails Brazilian wig and fake eye lashes like these wolves?
I’m so proud for not allowing myself to be brainwashed and robbed blind by these fake prophets like Joshua and the other con-men in sheep clothing’s. Look at all those so called “Prophets” and you will see they all have links to the underworld.
RISE OF THE CULTS: WHERE DID ALL THESE STRANGE RELIGIOUS SECTS COME FROM?
October 9, 2013 at 9:45 am
Imagine if Jesus was around driving in a Hummer or private jet, with a HULE like wife on his arm wearing fake nails Brazilian wig and fake eye lashes like these wolves?
I’m so proud for not allowing myself to be brainwashed and robbed blind by these fake prophets like Joshua and the other con-men in sheep clothing’s. Look at all those so called “Prophets” and you will see they all have links to the underworld.
pray & pay
October 9, 2013 at 9:47 am
Imagine if Jesus was around driving in a Hummer or private jet like these wolves?
pray & pay
October 9, 2013 at 9:49 am
Look at all those so called “Prophets” and you will see they all have links to the underworld.
pray & pay
October 9, 2013 at 9:54 am
“For the love of money is the root of all evil”
The sad part is these Pastorpreneurs are enriching themseleves by exploiting blind followers. people are so gullible and blinded by the advent of prosperity that they have forgotten that Jesus was against earthly riches and he told the rich fool to sell all his assets and share the proceeds with the poor now that is real. I dare these men of gold to flog their bentleys and top of the range whips and share with the less privileged.
Why I'm Skeptic
October 9, 2013 at 10:12 am
Pastor F. S.of Zambia may have been sent packing from Botswana because of suspicions that he is at the center of a syndicate involved in crimes like drug-dealing, money laundering and tax evasion.
Disgrantled
October 9, 2013 at 10:45 am
I do not understand why there should be more churches registered in Zambia. traditional churches like watchtower, catholic, lenshina UCZ,etc, cant someone find one that answers their aspirations? If looking for a radical one Lenshina is there, why more churches … bread of life !!! which life? all other churches are there to steal money from the poor. Zambian pastors’ children are overseas learning(no strikes by teachers) while the poor people are made to tithe. pastors STOP STEALING FROM PEOPLE
Eshu the Comfuser of men.
October 9, 2013 at 11:03 am
elolwanya so these crooks know that God sayofya how on earth the so called men of God do ilicit deals like drugs,sex,name any evil dealings in the name of GOD they even say amen
Why I'm Skeptic
October 9, 2013 at 11:44 am
F̶A̶K̶E̶ P̶A̶S̶T̶O̶R̶S̶.
Jerryjudge
October 9, 2013 at 1:41 pm
BA SO CALLED PASTORS,
I DO NOT TRUST THEM.HOW CAN A PASTOR BE INSISTING TO BE VISITED AT HIS PLACE BY A MARRIED WOMAN LEAVING HIS OFFICE KU CHURCH.BUT……SURE THESE ARE LAST DAYS.LET THEM ALL BE DEPORTED BA FIKALA FYABO!
Jerryjudge
October 9, 2013 at 1:43 pm
BA SO CALLED PASTORS,
I DO NOT TRUST THEM.HOW CAN A PASTOR BE INSISTING TO BE VISITED AT HIS PLACE BY A MARRIED WOMAN LEAVING HIS OFFICE KU CHURCH.BUT……SURE THESE ARE LAST DAYS.LET THEM ALL BE DEPORTED.
Servant of God
October 9, 2013 at 1:44 pm
Wakanika please leave Prophet TB Josua out of this.Examine whatever you hear and see in the light of Gods word and you will know who is a true pastor.God loves you my friend but be careful not to say evil against true and annointed servants of God.
F̶A̶K̶E̶ P̶A̶S̶T̶O̶R̶S̶.
October 9, 2013 at 3:03 pm
joshua is a piece of sh!t together with his followers
PA FWAKA
October 9, 2013 at 2:02 pm
Even in Zambian the **** all those to chore girls and other peoples wives
icinshikululwa
October 9, 2013 at 3:06 pm
If there iz no prophet in your Church; pray and it shall be given, if there iz no miraclez ask and you will receive. Traditional Churchez you are lost.
icinshikululwa
October 9, 2013 at 3:11 pm
Understand the Gospel; povert is not entertaned in Godz Kingdom.
Lunga Pwevo
October 9, 2013 at 5:22 pm
LEAVE THE MEN OF GOD ALONE. SOME OF THEM ARE TRUE MINISTERS OF THE WORD AND ARE ANOITED TO PREACH HEAL AND DELIVER. GOD IS THE OLY JUDGE. GOD BLESS YOU.
sdm member
October 9, 2013 at 7:21 pm
iwe wemuntu wa kwa LESA, sda is nt there to ge money. for it to be ku pacra it is the law of THE country
icinshikululwa
October 9, 2013 at 10:15 pm
My bro@ sdm member; the name of your Church like any other namez on earth, iz not what our Lord Jesus Chrit looking 4; but yo faith and love for Him. Accept the Gospel my dear, it haz the POWER to save your soul.
icinshikululwa
October 9, 2013 at 10:21 pm
And you who iz still westing your time; pliz listen to the saving Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ’ coz time is not with us.
thick sperm
October 10, 2013 at 6:08 am
@ TB JOSHUA
Viewers ollo-ova the world touch yo screen and broken.ni # 1 con-man, even hav his disciples like. John chi, harry mwenye,daniel and christopher ni rubbish they charge accomodation food anoiting oil/water .bible says no one is rightous on the eye of God
J.Luis
October 10, 2013 at 2:35 pm
Viakulola fyee! Katwishi uko tuleya.