PARTNERS IN CRIME: PENTECOSTALISM AND BOTSWANA HIV/AIDS POLICY ON CROSS-BORDER MIGRANTS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25159/2412-4265/87Abstract
In this paper I seek to interrogate how the theology of some Pentecostal churches, especially the theology that God heals HIV and AIDS, interacts with the situation of cross-border migrants in Botswana. I also seek to discuss the Botswana HIV policy which denies HIV-positive cross-border migrants access to Anti-Retroviral treatment (henceforth ARVs) which has proven to prolong and improve the quality of life of people living with HIV. Conflict exists between Botswana HIV policy on strict adherence to ARVs and some Pentecostal churches’ insistence that members of their churches living with HIV are healed by God, and therefore they should not take ARVs. While the Pentecostal Church is a ‘home away from home’ for migrants, their theology is in constant conflict and clashes with Botswana HIV health policy, even if the reality is that the same policy denies migrants access to HIV services. It is ironic that both the HIV policy and the Pentecostal theology are in pursuit of preserving life; yet, they both deny cross-border migrants that very life.
Metrics
References
Anderson, A. 1999. 'World Pentecostalism at a crossroads.' In Pentecostals after a century: Global perspectives on a movement in transition, eds. A. Anderson and W.J. Hollenweger. Sheffield Academic Press.
Appiah-Kubi, K. 1981. Man cures, God heals: Religion and medical practice among theAkans of
Ghana Allanheld: Osmun.
Asamoah-Gyadu, K. 2005. African charismatics: Current developments within independent indigenous Pentecostalism in Ghana. Leiden: Brill. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1163/9789047406303
Banda, I. (n.d.) Zimbabwe: Children crossing borders in search of HIV treatment http://allafrica. com/stories/201008240798.html (accessed July 28 2014).
Barnard, A. et al. 2005. 'Gag on free speech casts a shadow on Africa's "Beacon of Democracy".' Letters to the Editor, The Scotsman, 24 February.
Malema, B.K.W. and S.F. Koch. 2008. 'The free provision of ARV therapy: Is it a golden opportunity on a silver platter for organisations?' BOJE: Botsw ana Journal of Economics Vol. 5(7), October, 2008, pp. 84-92. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4314/boje.v5i7.60311
Callahan, B.T. and V. Bond. 1999. 'The social, cultural and epidemiological history of sexually transmitted diseases in Zambia.' In Histories of sexually transmitted diseases and HIVIAIDS in sub-Saharan Africa , P Setel, M. Lewis and M. Lyons. Westport: Green Wood Press.
Chirongoma, S. 2006. 'Women, poverty and HIV in Zimbabwe: An exploration of inequalities in health care.' In African women, religion, and health: Essays in honor of mercy Amba Ewudziwa Oduyoye eds. Isabel Apawo Phiri and Sarojini Nadar. Maryknoll: Orbis.
Coleman, S. 2000. The globalisation of charismatic Christianity. Cambridge University Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511488221
Crush, J., V. Williams and S. Peberdy. 2005. Migration in Southern Africa . Geneva: Global
Commission on International Migration, pp. 5, 10, 24.
Frieder, L. and J. Kwabena Asarnoah-Gyadu eds. 2011. The African Christian presence in the West: New immigrant congregations and transnational networks in North America and Europe. Trenton: Africa World Press.
Gabaitse, R.M. 2013. Towards an African Pentecostal feminist Biblical hermeneutic of liberation: A case study of interpreting Luke-Acts with Batswana Women. Unpublished PhD thesis, University of KwaZulu Natal, Pietermaritzburg.
Gifford, P 1991. The new crusader: Christianity and the new right in southern Africa. London and Concordia: Pluto.
Gifford, P. 1993. Christianity and politics in Does Liberia. Cambridge University Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511520525
Gifford, P. 1998: African Christianity: Its public role. London: Hurst.
Gifford, P 2004. Ghana s new Christianity: Pentecostalism in a globalizing African economy.
Bloomington: Indiana University Press.
Gould, E. 2008. Secrets of cancer survivors: A book of hope for cancer patients, their families and friends. Melbourne: Michelle Anderson Publishing.
Hanciles, J. 2009. 'African Christianity, globalization, and mission: Marginalizing the center.' In Interpreting contemporary Christianity: Global processes and local identities, eds. O.U. Kalu and A. Low. Michigan: William Eerdmans, pp. 71-90.
Johnson, T.M. and G .A. Bellofatto. 2012. 'Migration, religious diasporas, and religious diversity: A global survey.'Mission Studies 29: 3-22.
Johnson T.M. and G. Zurlo. 2012. 'Migration, religious diasporas, and religious diversity: A DOI: https://doi.org/10.1163/157338312X637993
global survey,'Mission Studies 29, pp. 3-22.
Kwame, B. 1995. Christianity inAfrica: The renewal of a non-Western religion. Maryknoll: Orbis.
Landau, L.B. ed. 2011. Exorcising the demons within: Xenophobia, violence and statecraft in
contemporary South Africa. Johannesburg: Wits University Press.
Martin, D. 2002. Pentecostalism: The world their parish. Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishers.
Mmegi: The Monitor. 2008. 'Christ Embassy Pastor deported,' Vol. 21: 116, 11 August.
Mmegi online. 2012a. 'Why Sakufiwa was deported,' Vol. 29(79), 30 May.
Mmegi online. 2012b. 'Selling God to the highest bidder,' Vol. 29(81), Friday, 01 June.
Mmegi online. 2013. 'AIDS coordinator accuses pastors of discouraging ARV intake,' Vol. 30(36),
March.
Olivier, M. 2011. 'Enhancing access to South African social security benefits by SADC citizens: The need to improve bilateral arrangements within a multilateral framework. (Part I) SADC Law Journal, Vol. 1, 2011 http://www.sadclawjournal.org/index.php?module=Content%20 editing&func=view&pid=21.
Omenyo, C.N. 2006. 'Pentecost outside Penetecostalism: A study of the development of charismatic renewal in the mainline churches in Ghana ' . Uitgeverij Boekencentrum.
Sunday Standard, 22-10-2012 http://www.k4health.org/sites/defaultlfiles/SADC_Cross_ Border_ Initiative 2012.
Sunday Standard online edition, 2012. 'BONELA and former offenders at odds over condom distribution'. October 2012.
Tebogo, T. 2013. 'BONELA, inmates intend law suit.' BOPA July, 2013.
TerHaar, G. 1998. Halfway to paradise: African Christians in Europe. Wales: Cardiff Academic
Press.
The Monitor 11 August 2008 Vol. 21: 116 http://www.unaids.org/en/resources/documents/1997/.
Togarasei, L. 2010. 'Christian theology oflife, death and healing in an era of antiretroviral therapy: DOI: https://doi.org/10.2989/16085906.2010.545658
reflections on the responses of some Botswana churches,' African Journal of AIDS Research,
Vol. 9(4): 429.
UNAIDS Resolution adopted by the General Assembly: Political Declaration on HIV and AIDS http://data.unaids. org/pub/Report/2006/20060615_hlm_politicaldeclaration_ares60262_ en.pdf (accessed July 2013).
Waller, L. 2006. 'Irregular migration to South Africa during the first ten years of democracy.' SAMP Migration Policy Brief No. 19. Kingston/Cape Town: Southern African Migration Project.
Wild-Wood, E. 2008. 'Migration and Christian identity in Congo (DRC),' Studies of Religion in DOI: https://doi.org/10.1163/ej.9789004164642.i-235
Africa, 35. Leiden: Brill.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
Accepted 2015-04-30
Published 2015-07-14
