St John court succession battle ends

Source: Mmegi Online
Author: Lebogang Mosikare

FRANCISTOWN: The St John's Apostolic Mission Church of Botswana, widely known as St John, has been entangled in a leadership dispute since the passing of its leader, Archbishop Andrew Ndubano on July 26, 2021.

The succession saga ended on Friday when Justice Gaolapelwe Ketlogetswe ruled in favour of the plaintiff, St John, directing the installation of Melittah Ndubano, the late Archbishop's daughter, as the successor. The defendant was ordered to cover the plaintiff's costs.

Sources close to the succession dispute revealed that one of Ndubano's close relatives and another church member based in Maun were also vying for leadership. The opposing faction planned elections on February 26 to choose the church leader. The leadership conflict at St John is perplexing given that, according to the minutes of the executive committee meeting on July 4, 2020, at the church's headquarters in Francistown, Archbishop Andrew had informed the committee of his poor health and expressed his conclusion that his daughter Melittah (Ndubano) should succeed him.