Court gives ZCC six months to appoint local Minister

Gaborone High Court heard on Monday this week that talks between Zion Christian Church (ZCC) Tlokweng branch and their South Africa-based church leader, Bishop Edward Lekganyane over the appointment of church minister in Botswana have collapsed.

The lawyer representing the church, Daniel Swabi told High Court Judge Michael Mothobi that the relationship between the two parties was problematic. “As we speak the negotiations have collapsed,” said Swabi.

17 members of the church went to court last September accusing the leadership of violating the church constitution by not appointing a minister to run and head the church in Botswana thereby throwing the local structures in disarray and uncertainty as no one was suitable to lead.

As a result the church was run from outside, they argued.

As for the absence of an annual general meeting (AGM), they said the church lacks accountability and transparency, which is not good for governance purposes. “We deserve and are entitled to know about the affairs of the church; we are entitled to know how the church money is used and accounted for and we want to hold church leadership accountable,” they argued.

Meanwhile the lawyer representing the applicants, Uyapo Ndadi on Monday proposed that the parties be given six months to appoint a church minister and be given time to appoint local structures. Justice Mothobi concurred but warned lawyers from both parties to allow clients to dictate what to do in the case.

“Everybody should work towards the benefit of the church. I will fast track this case because this is a big church in Botswana,” he said. The case will continue on April 8.