Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Gaborone (Agenzia Fides) - “It is our duty as responsible citizens to exercise our right to choose the leaders and government that will respect human dignity and create better life for all,” the Bishops of Botswana affirm in a Pastoral Letter on Presidential Elections to take place on October 16. The document, sent to Agenzia Fides, was read in all the nation's parishes in Mass on Sunday, September 20.
Botswana is one of the most stable and pacific nations in Africa, which is why the Bishops thank God and the leaders who have ruled the country since 1966 (year of independence) until today. “Botswana is where it is now because it was blessed with good leadership from its birth as an independent state till present time we are still enjoying the good fruits of our good leaders. In order to continue to prosper as a nation we need to preserve this legacy by voting for good leaders.”
What is leadership? The Bishops offer this definition: “process of social influence in which one person is able to influence and enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task.”
“Leaders carry out this process by applying their leadership attributes, such as their beliefs, values, ethics, character, knowledge and skills. Ultimately leadership is about creating a way for people to contribute to making something extraordinary happen.”
Christians, the Pastoral Letter says, have the duty of contributing to building the Kingdom of God, through the exercise of their own right to vote, as well. “We use our right to vote in order to choose a government which will facilitate the coming of the kingdom of God on earth here and now. A kingdom that will provide our daily bread, peace, prosperity and respect for human dignity, emphasizing the common good and condivision.”
The Bishops' Conference does not say how to vote, because, as the document explains: “the church has a spiritual role, to link present and future (religion and development) through motivating effective engagement of believers in economic activity, 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 Catholic church does not identify itself with any political party or ideology, but will encourage the faithful to choose the party that fulfills the social teaching of the church on good governance.”
The Bishops recall that good governance is defined by the Church's social doctrine as “The dignity of the human person; good stewardship; the rights and responsibilities of individuals and communities; subsidiarity; common good.” (LM) (Agenzia Fides 30/9/2009)
