Bellah Zulu, ACNS

Thousands of Christians from Botswana and elsewhere are expected to attend the consecration of Botswana’s fifth bishop, the Venerable Metlhayotlhe Rawlings Beleme.

The consecration and enthronement Service will be held at the Holy Cross Cathedral in the country’s capital Gaborone on July 14. It will be led by Primate of the Church of the Province of Central Africa (CPCA), the Most Revd Albert Chama.

In a statement, Dean of Holy Cross Cathedral and Vicar-General of the Diocese of Botswana the Very Revd James McKeran said the consecration will be a "truly exciting event" in the history of the church in Botswana.

“Although the Anglican Church [in Botswana] has been served by four faithful and dedicated leaders since the Diocese became independent in 1972, Fr Metlha will be the first to have been born in Botswana.”

He added, “He also comes with a personal story that whilst deeply rooted in the Setswana culture gives him a good appreciation of the wider church and world.”

After a year serving as Rector of the Parish of St Simon of Cyrene, Tlokweng, he moved to the Diocese of Matlosane, South Africa in 2007--initially as Dean of the Cathedral of the Resurrection in Ikageng-Potchefstroom and then as Rector of the Parish of St Peter’s Klerksdorp and Archdeacon to the Bishop

Notable invited guests include the Republican President, Lt General Seretse Khama Ian Khama and all fellow bishops from CPCA. Others are Christian leaders from within the country and representatives of linked overseas churches including the bishops of Newcastle, Johannesburg, Matlosane, Lesotho and Swaziland.

Fr Beleme takes over from Bishop Trevor Mwamba who resigned and relocated to the UK in February this year where he is working within the Church of England.

The Diocese of Botswana is the Anglican Church in the Republic of Botswana. The country has 14 parishes including 50 churches, 19 licensed clergy and about 80 lay ministers.