Asiphenguli ( we don’t practise divination) – NCB

MBABANE – The National Church Board ( NCB) of The All i a nce Church in Eswatini has declared t hat t here are no known i ssues of ungodly practices and witchcraft in the church.

The NCB was responding to issues raised in a petition by some disgruntled members of the Alliance Church in the country. The members raised these issues through a petition that they circulated in the local branches and online.

I n one of t he demands made by t he petitioners they highlighted that they want a commission of enquiry into the allegations of bribery and corruption, ungodly practices by the NCB as well as witchcraft which they said was currently rocking the church.

In its response, the NCB made it categorically clear that it cannot perform any act of divination to ascertain the matter of witchcraft in the church.

“The issue of ungodly practices and witchcraft are not issues known to the NCB. The NCB does not practise divination ( kuphengul a) t o a s c e r t a i n i ndi vi duals pr a c t i s i ng witchcraft. The NCB noticed an article in one of print media houses about the allegations of witchcraft at Bhunya Alliance Church,” said

or brethren who are bullied. The petition had highlighted three leaders who were allegedly bullied by the NCB or its members.

The NCB said they had observed that some of the people who signed the petition were not trained on the church theme which was presented by the leaders and that most of the petitioners do not f orm part of t he Church the NCB’s response.

The NCB further highlighted that in every local church there is a pastor and the Local Church Board ( LCB) who are responsible for the administration of the local church.

They further indicated that if the LCB fails to deal with the issues, they have the right to then refer them to Regional Church Board ( RCB) which can then send it to the NCB.

“The i ssues of Bhunya Alliance Church are dealt with by i t s l eadership who shall then refer it to the relevant structures when necessary,” they added.

The NCB further called upon the petitioners t o provide evidence for t he allegations of bribery, corruption, ungodly practices and witchcraft.

The NCB also revealed that there was never any petition that was received from Bhunya Alliance Church detailing any misunderstanding within the church.

The NCB detailed all the responses and also requested supporting material on other issues that were raised citing substantiation of the demands presented. The petition was signed by over 150 people and it was presented and received by members of the NCB including the chairperson.

General Assembly yet they are criticising the President’s speech.

“A responsible and respectful church member will not do such a demeaning act. The focus for the year 2019 was on the healthy church hence the president, as a visionary leader, opted to take a different approach of highlighting things that make our church unhealthy,” said the NCB.