Africa-Press – Eswatini. Members of Parliament want pastors who continuously siphon money from unsuspecting congregants in the name of God with a promise to bring luck stopped dead in their tracks.
As such, MPs have called upon Minister of Home Affairs Princess Lindiwe to include a provision that would clearly stipulate a criterion for admissible ‘men of the cloth’ in the kingdom when compiling the non-governmental organisations (NGO) and religious groupings regulations, which are currently underway.
The MPs instructed the princess to see into it that the regulations also have tough punitive measures, which include but not limited to, banning pastors found to be on the wrong side of the law from practicing again.
There was also a call for the regulations not to discriminate against NGOs which advocate for the rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning and Intersex (LGBTQ+).
Ndzingeni MP Lutfo Dlamini said it was disheartening and disgraceful that some pastors who were leaders of prominent religious establishments in the country rape, con and abuse members of the public but continue to practice after being found guilty of the said offences.
He claimed that it was common knowledge that some ‘men of God’ fool congregants into believing that they could have their problems solved by giving either tithes or offering when they were well aware that the intention was only to fatten their pockets.
Dlamini wondered whether the ministry regulated churches and to what extent do they ensure the nation’s protection from unscrupulous pastors.
“These people are conning Emaswati in broad daylight and there urgently needs to be an intervention from the ministry,” submitted Dlamini as other MPs who attended the ministry of home affairs 2022/2023 first quarter report debate agreed.
The debate was chaired by portfolio committee Chairperson Mhlangatane MP, Madala Mhlanga.
Amenable
Dlamini also wondered why members of the public continued to be amenable to being conned by pastors into believing that they should pay for luck to come their way.
“Why would one need to bribe God for deliverance yet He already knows what they need even before they think about praying? Please sort out this mess, you have our backing as legislators,” Dlamini promised.
The Ndzingeni legislator was seconded by Lomahasha MP Ndumiso Masimula (who is also a pastor) who called upon the minister to help get rid of fake religious leaders.
He submitted that a number of innocent members of the public were being ripped off in the name of God.
“Please help us get rid of these fake pastors,” Masimula said.
The call for regulations to get rid of fake pastors was made to the ministry of home affairs because their mandate was to offer services on civil registration, immigration, refugee protection, coordination of national events and celebrations as well as oversee the operations of NGOs together with religious institutions.
Gaps
It should be noted that in the first quarter report, the minister promised that the country continued to close gaps relating to NGOs and religious groupings regulation.
The minister reported that a draft legal framework aimed at setting the tone on this sector’s regulation had been developed through consultations.
“The draft framework is currently being transcribed into a bill format. Projections indicate positive outcomes in having same processed through relevant structures to promulgate into legislation,” reads the report in part.
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