UNHOLY WARS
Pastors in nasty fights over power at local organisation
Members at the Organisation of African Instituted Churches (OAIC) Botswana Chapter are embroiled in bitter fights that threaten to shake the stability and break the organisation apart.
The wars have turned nasty and have even reached the courts of law, leading to the ouster of long-time organisation leader, Dr Tebogo Philemon Motlhagodi.
The Midweek Sun has been reliably informed that unhappy members of OAIC successfully took Motlhagodi and his committee to court arguing that they assumed power erroneously in 2019. It is alleged that the committee that was in power from 2015 until 2019 led by Motlhagodi as president, was supposed to end its term in March 2020.
However, it happened that sometime in November 2019, elections were held and a new committee, with Motlhagodi retaining the presidency, was announced. Three years later, some members felt things were not done properly and approached court for possible recourse. Court has agreed with them and it was ordered that the Motlhagodi-led committee be dissolved. Elections were held and there is a new
OAIC president, Meshack Motsomane. According to sources, going into the elections this year, there was a new rule for contestants. It was that they should not be politically active if they wish to be members of the committee. T
his meant that Motlhagodi, who is specially-elected councillor for Metsimotlhabe Ward, did not stand a chance. “Things that happen these days are too much. Men calling themselves pastors are fighting bitterly for power. How do we explain going to court to resolve such issues? “As men of God, they were supposed to sit down and address these issues. Not to drag and tear each other apart in courts,” the source fumed. Reached for comment this week, Motlhagodi said he was at peace with everything that had happened and not willing to say much. “All I am happy for is that I have done a lot for the church and hopefully those in power will continue where we left off. We have managed to bring the church and government closer and that is a great milestone for me. “I wish the new leaders nothing but success, the church should not crumble but grow stronger,” he said. The new president Motsomane said he had nothing to say at the moment explaining that there are still issues that need to be attended to first.