Minister: Government will not regulate churches
MBABANE – The Minister for Home Affairs Princess Lindiwe has revealed that government will not be regulating churches as a new policy for religious institutions is being developed.
This follows an announcement by the minister that churches’ registration will now be under the Ministry of Home Affairs after the enactment of the proposed policy currently being developed through consultations. The pronouncement by the minister is expected to allay fears that government had plans to regulate churches.
The ministry yesterday held consultations at the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade’s Auditorium at the Interministerial Building in Mbabane where hundreds of representatives from the different Christian fraternities and denominations gathered for the crucial stakeholder meeting aimed at discussing the development of the comprehensive policy to govern religious institutions in Eswatini.
Minister Princess Lindiwe, in her remarks on the mandate of the meeting, said the ministry’s aim was not to regulate churches, but wants churches to continue to operate independently in all aspects, even in terms of the sermons preached.
“We are aware that in some countries churches are regulated such that the kinds of sermons delivered are also regulated by government. In some cases, officers are even sent to stand guard and observe whether services are conducted according to government policy and that is not our aim,” said the minister, much to the applause of the members of denominations which were present at the meeting.
She further said their aim was not to impose on the teachings in churches, but churches would continue to regulate themselves.
The minister emphasised that the role played by the ministry was mainly bringing order and churches will continue to be accountable and regulated by their mother bodies. These are Council of Churches, League of Churches and the Conference of Churches.
According to the minister, the Ministry of Home Affairs had given itself an assignment of responsibility. “Religious institutions lacked order, as there was no clear system as to the number of churches in the country and a comprehensive system that identifies each church under a certain denomination. We are devising a policy that will bring clarity and order,” she said.
She further highlighted that while the registration of churches is currently done under the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade, which registered denominations as non-governmental organisations (NGOs), this policy would ensure that churches are back under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
“The aim is not to divide churches nor cause conflict, but to make a clear distinction of the churches found in the country and further to create order in the affiliations,” she said.
Worth noting is that these engagements were facilitated by the Ministry of Home Affairs to get feedback from churches on how best the policy can address issues of importance in matters of faith and the operations of religious entities therein.
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Some desire to affiliate under separate bodies
MBABANE – Some Christian church institutions have disclosed their reluctance to affiliate with the designated mother bodies.
This follows the assertion by Minister for Home Affairs Princess Lindiwe, who said the ministry will create a religious institution portal, which will include all the registered churches, as provided by the designated mother bodies each church is affiliated to.
These umbrella bodies are the League of Churches, Council of Churches and Conference of Churches. However, some clergymen are of the notion that affiliating under the aforementioned mother bodies is against their religious principles, citing grievances with the umbrella bodies.
Reverend Johannes Mazibuko, in his submission, revealed that there were other affiliate bodies outside of the three designated bodies mentioned by the minister.
“The question then becomes: are we sticking to just those three umbrella bodies and those are the ones that are recognised by government as we move to register churches under the Ministry of Home Affairs? This, I question, as I happen to be aware of other bodies in existence,” said the reverend.
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... exciting spin-offs from Commerce ‘exodus’
MBABANE – Some members of churches within the country have welcomed the ‘exodus’ from the Ministry of Commerce to the Ministry of Home Affairs with conditions.
According to some men of the cloth, the move from the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade to the Ministry of Home Affairs in the registration of churches should come with benefits, including the removal of business electricity charges for churches, as well as exemption from paying taxes.
Apostolic Church’s Pastor Benson Dlamini, whose denomination affiliates under Council of Churches, said they welcomed the move to have churches fully under the Ministry of Home Affairs, however, the business charge for electricity should also be reconsidered, as it is causing churches to struggle financially, more especially in the rural areas.
Revival Life Ministries Pastor Moses Matsebula called for the exemption of churches from paying taxes, requesting that this be considered by the ministry as the exodus happens.
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Money, succession cited as main causes of conflicts
MBABANE – Where is the money and who will take over?
Men of cloth have highlighted finances and succession plans as the main causes of division and conflict in religious institutions.
In a submission on the national policy for religious institutions, Reverend Johannes Mazibuko said he was pleased to hear that the registration of churches would move from the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade to the Ministry of Home Affairs.
He said there was an abuse of finances in the church, which he termed **‘financial rape’** which had resulted in conflict and distress in churches such that most end up losing focus on the faith-based mandate, but focus mainly on the issues plaguing the church.
Pastor Bongani Dlamini from Ark of God Family said the main issue was that churches had moved from the principles of the Word of God, but focused mainly on issues pertaining to prosperity.
“There is no substance in local churches anymore. Too much emphasis is placed on finances and other things which are not the gospel,” he said.
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Registration under Commerce not an issue - some
MBABANE – Some pastors are of the notion that there is no need to move from the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade.
Contrary to the popular idea that most churches are all for registration and affiliation solely under the Ministry of Home Affairs, some clergymen beg to differ.
Metropolitan Evangelical Church Pastor Lengesihle Mzileni said the prevailing registration of churches under the Ministry of Commerce is not a problem.
“The biggest issue churches undergo when it comes to registration under Commerce is **compliance**,” he said.
He said members of the church should be mindful that churches were not registered as companies at the Commerce Ministry, but were, instead, registered as non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
*Full article available in our publication
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