Bishop Emeritus, Dr. Cosmos Moenga of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Botswana, the second man to hold the post has been buried in his home village, Mapororo, near Tsau.
Dr. Moenga was laid to rest on Saturday, eulogised by friends, family, church members and former colleagues at the Evangelical Lutheran Church and Ramatea Vocational School (RAVOS) in Kanye where he was lately employed as Director. He died on the 14th of July after a short illness.
Different speakers described Dr. Moenga as a living embodiment of humility, a giver and a political stalwart.
Former National AIDS Coordinating Agency (NACA) Coordinator, Richard Matlhare – a family member - told mourners that Dr. Moenga believed in developing individuals. According to Matlhare, Dr. Moenga always put other people’s needs above his own. “I have been to his house in Gaborone many times while he was still Bishop and I always wondered, is this a house of a Bishop!" This is because Moenga did not have a lot of possessions in his house. His home in
Mapororo also reflected Dr. Moenga’s scorn for flashy earthly possessions such as a big house and big cars. “I guess many of you expected to find a big house and a Range Rover,” Matlhare said in reference to Dr. Moenga’s modest house in the village of Mapororo.
While still studying in the United States, Dr. Moenga always brought bags full of clothes to give to his family members, Matlhare revealed.
Born in February 1956, Moenga started his primary school in Kachikau in 1963 and later completed his Standard 7 at Tsau Primary School in 1972. He completed his Junior Certificate at Mahalapye Secondary School in 1975 and later did his Cambridge O’ Levels at Swaneng Hill. Dr. Moenga completed his Theology Training and studies in Adult Education at the University of Botswana and studied Business Accounting in Tanzania.
According to Matlhare, Dr. Moenga was enthusiastic about learning and many in Tsau were inspired by his educational journey. His other qualifications include Phd Contemporary Theology – Philadelphia USA, Masters of Sacred Theology – Lutheran Theology Seminary, Philadelphia USA and Bachelor of Arts Theology and Religious Studies gained from the University of Namibia from 1994-1998.
According to his funeral program, Bishop Moenga was a lecturer in theology at Kgolagano Ecumenical College as well as the Woodpecker Lutheran Theological Seminary, where he served as Principal. He was elected Bishop’s Deputy of the ELCB and in 2005 he became Bishop and served only one term.
Dr. Moenga’s time as bishop was however characterized by tensions and factional wars within the Lutheran church. ELCB Northern Circuit representative, Jason Kazombungo told mourners that divisions within the church forced Dr. Moenga to serve only one term as bishop. “There were serious divisions within the church, some were even questioning that someone from the north and from a 'minor' tribe will lead the church,” said Kazombungo.
Dr. Moenga is also known for his political activism and his quest to unite Botswana’s opposition parties. A member of the Botswana National Front (BNF) Dr. Moenga was not the one to shy away from expressing his radical views often through lengthy newspaper articles. Before his passing he was harboring ideas of forming a new political party called the Botswana Communist Party, a party which he once told this reporter would remain a member of the BNF.
Bishop Dr. Moenga leaves behind his mother, two brothers and two sisters, five children and three grandchildren.
Dr. Moenga was laid to rest on Saturday, eulogised by friends, family, church members and former colleagues at the Evangelical Lutheran Church and Ramatea Vocational School (RAVOS) in Kanye where he was lately employed as Director. He died on the 14th of July after a short illness.
Different speakers described Dr. Moenga as a living embodiment of humility, a giver and a political stalwart.
Former National AIDS Coordinating Agency (NACA) Coordinator, Richard Matlhare – a family member - told mourners that Dr. Moenga believed in developing individuals. According to Matlhare, Dr. Moenga always put other people’s needs above his own. “I have been to his house in Gaborone many times while he was still Bishop and I always wondered, is this a house of a Bishop!" This is because Moenga did not have a lot of possessions in his house. His home in
Mapororo also reflected Dr. Moenga’s scorn for flashy earthly possessions such as a big house and big cars. “I guess many of you expected to find a big house and a Range Rover,” Matlhare said in reference to Dr. Moenga’s modest house in the village of Mapororo.
While still studying in the United States, Dr. Moenga always brought bags full of clothes to give to his family members, Matlhare revealed.
Born in February 1956, Moenga started his primary school in Kachikau in 1963 and later completed his Standard 7 at Tsau Primary School in 1972. He completed his Junior Certificate at Mahalapye Secondary School in 1975 and later did his Cambridge O’ Levels at Swaneng Hill. Dr. Moenga completed his Theology Training and studies in Adult Education at the University of Botswana and studied Business Accounting in Tanzania.
According to Matlhare, Dr. Moenga was enthusiastic about learning and many in Tsau were inspired by his educational journey. His other qualifications include Phd Contemporary Theology – Philadelphia USA, Masters of Sacred Theology – Lutheran Theology Seminary, Philadelphia USA and Bachelor of Arts Theology and Religious Studies gained from the University of Namibia from 1994-1998.
According to his funeral program, Bishop Moenga was a lecturer in theology at Kgolagano Ecumenical College as well as the Woodpecker Lutheran Theological Seminary, where he served as Principal. He was elected Bishop’s Deputy of the ELCB and in 2005 he became Bishop and served only one term.
Dr. Moenga’s time as bishop was however characterized by tensions and factional wars within the Lutheran church. ELCB Northern Circuit representative, Jason Kazombungo told mourners that divisions within the church forced Dr. Moenga to serve only one term as bishop. “There were serious divisions within the church, some were even questioning that someone from the north and from a 'minor' tribe will lead the church,” said Kazombungo.
Dr. Moenga is also known for his political activism and his quest to unite Botswana’s opposition parties. A member of the Botswana National Front (BNF) Dr. Moenga was not the one to shy away from expressing his radical views often through lengthy newspaper articles. Before his passing he was harboring ideas of forming a new political party called the Botswana Communist Party, a party which he once told this reporter would remain a member of the BNF.
Bishop Dr. Moenga leaves behind his mother, two brothers and two sisters, five children and three grandchildren.
