Bame Piet
11 January 2008
Gaborone — The Anglican Church's 2005 Audited Financial Statement reveals that P8,846,716.00 that was to be spent on long-term liabilities has not been accounted for. "We did not obtain information and explanations to support certain long-term liabilities amounting to P8,846,716.00. The agreements stipulating the terms of loans were not available," reads a report of independent auditors, BDO Spencer Steward.
The report also disclosed that the previous year's (2004) financial statements were not audited, therefore making it difficult to fully execute their assignment.
"The system of accounting was unsatisfactory, and in particular a proper general ledger was not maintained during the year," the auditors report continued. However, this was a contradiction to the executive committee's approved statement that the organisation's system of internal financial control are "designed to provide, but not absolute, assurance as to the reliability of financial statements, and to adequately safeguard, verify and maintain accountability of assets, and to prevent and detect misstatement and loss".
"Nothing has come to the attention of the executive committee to indicate that any material breakdown in the functioning of these controls, procedures and systems has occurred during the year under review," reads the statement of the executive committee. The committee approved the financial statement on July 10,2007.
An officer at the church offices would not state whether the financial statements for the years 2006, and 2007 were out, saying such reports were confidential.
When contacted for comment, Bishop Trevor Mwamba of the Diocese of Botswana said that he was too busy and had no time to comment on Mmegi enquiries.
Meanwhile, the case of suspended pastors against the church is scheduled for January 21 at the Lobatse High Court. It has emerged that congregations in the country are required to present to the diocese proper financial records yearly. "We present financial records to the diocese every year but we do not get any financial reports from them," said a highly placed member of the Tonota congregation.
Some members of the church alleged that the pastors were suspended for enquiring about financial transactions but the church leadership argues that the pastors were banned for misconduct.
The suspended pastors are for the Molepolole, Tonota, Mahalapye, Broadhurst, Mogoditshane and Selebi-Phikwe congregations.
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