AFRICA/BOTSWANA - “We have been blessed with good leadership: let’s vote to preserve this heredity” says Bishop of Gaborone

Gaborone (Agenzia Fides)- “It is our duty, as citizens, exercise our right to choose leaders and government who will respect human dignity and work to improve the lives of everyone” Bishop Valentine Tsamma Seane, of Gaborone, capital of Botswana, writes in a pastoral letter regarding general elections scheduled for 24 October. Bishop Seane underlines “Botswana is where it is now because it has been blessed with good leadership since its birth as an independent state till the present time when we still enjoy the fruits of our good leaders. In order to continue to prosper as a nation, we need to preserve this heredity by exercising our right to vote for good leaders of our choice. Every five years we are given the opportunity to evaluate, asses and make our choice”.
“The Church has a spiritual role - Bishop Seane reminds his readers – to link present and future, (religion and development) motivating effective engagement of believers in economic activities ensuring that the common good is promoted, providing right information so that right policy choice is made and promote Christian values in order to form a loving nation with good morals”.
The Bishop of Gaborone concludes “the Catholic Church does not identify herself with any political party or ideology, but will encourage the faithful to choose a party that fulfils the social teaching of the church on good governance”.
Botswana, with a population of 1,877,000 including 101,000 Catholics, is considered one of Africa’s most stable and prosperous countries. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 9/9/2014)