BY MFANUFIKILE KHATHWANE
MANZINI– Eswatini Conference of Churches (ECC) President Bishop Robert Kasaro has called on churches to resolve conflicts through peaceful dialogue instead of public confrontations and legal battles.
Bishop Kasaro made the remarks on May 28, 2026, during the ongoing ECC General Assembly at the Metropolitan Church in Manzini, where church leaders from different denominations gathered to discuss challenges affecting the church and the nation.
Addressing delegates, the bishop expressed concern over the growing number of disputes, divisions and leadership conflicts within churches, saying such disagreements were weakening the mission of spreading the Gospel.
“Church conflicts must be resolved through peaceful dialogue,” said Kasaro.
He urged pastors and church leaders to prioritise unity, reconciliation and understanding in order to strengthen the body of Christ.
Bishop Kasaro is one of the country’s prominent evangelical leaders and currently serves as President of the ECC, the umbrella body representing Pentecostal, Evangelical and Charismatic churches in Eswatini. He took over the position in 2021 following the death of former ECC president Bishop Stephen Masilela. Kasaro is also the founder and senior pastor of Jesus Calls Worship Centre International, headquartered in Matsapha with branches across Southern Africa.
His remarks come at a time when churches in Eswatini continue to face internal conflicts, leadership disputes and divisions that have sometimes resulted in court battles, police intervention and disruptions of church services.
Several churches have in recent years experienced turmoil linked to leadership succession, dismissals of pastors and disagreements over governance structures, with some disputes escalating into public confrontations among congregants.
The issue has repeatedly drawn condemnation from His Majesty King Mswati III and the Queen Mother (Indlovukazi), who have publicly expressed concern over infighting and power struggles within churches.
During national religious gatherings and royal thanksgiving services, King Mswati III has warned church leaders against divisions and personal ambitions, reminding them that the church belongs to God and should remain a sanctuary of peace and spiritual guidance.
The King has previously compared church infighting to Lucifer’s rebellion in Heaven, cautioning pastors against pride, internal politics and the pursuit of power.
He has also condemned incidents where church disputes resulted in physical altercations, locked church buildings and police involvement, saying Christians should not resort to “the sword” or worldly confrontations when resolving disagreements.
Their Majesties have further urged umbrella bodies such as the ECC and the League of African Churches to strengthen accountability and ensure member churches promote peace, unity and proper conflict resolution mechanisms.
Meanwhile, another speaker at the meeting challenged pastors to return to the foundational principles of Christianity and remain faithful to the true Gospel.
The speaker urged ministers to reflect on whether they were still preaching the message they were genuinely called by God to deliver, warning against losing focus on spiritual integrity and servant leadership.
The ECC General Assembly continues with discussions expected to focus on church unity, accountability and strengthening faith communities across the country.
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(Courtesy Pic)
