26 Aug 2018

The first full IKalanga Bible was officially launched in Francistown on August 25.

Speaker of the National Assembly, Gladys Kokorwe said she hoped that the Bible would bring healing to those who have patiently been waiting for it for years, pride to those proud of their language and growth in spirituality for those who led Bible studies.

 “I stand here today representing the government and celebrating the birth of the first born of many yet to come from the Bible Society of Botswana,” she said.

She said the Bible would contribute in building of morally upright individuals and also present God to communities comfortable in engaging with God in their own languages.

Kokorwe acknowledged that the Bible drew families, couples, churches and nations together in their quest for wisdom, built great institutions and character transformation among others.

“The Bible inspires our people to connect with the spiritual world by reading the Word, meditation and prayer,” she added.

Earlier, Francistown City Council mayor, Sylvia Muzila pointed out that the project showed that government was committed to uniting different tribes and that the IKalanga Bible would encourage other tribes to learn the language.

She said Christians were meant to receive the Word of God, in different languages.

Giving background of the IKalanga Bible Translation Project (KBTP), former KBTP Exegete Reverend Klaus Pahlen said a survey was conducted in the IKalanga speaking area to establish possibilities of Bible translation.

He said though the idea was received with mixed feelings, 32 congregations unanimously agreed to have the Bible translated to IKalanga in 1992.

“The Bible translation project has always been a joint venture of different churches and organisations,” he said.

Reverend Pahlen noted that the KBTP officially started in 1985 under the supervision of the Lutheran Church in South Africa and the United Nations Bible society. Ends