Pressure mounts on karate committee
Calistus Kolantsho | Saturday July 9, 2022 06:00
Tensions came to a head at last month's Annual General Meeting (AGM) where the financial report was not presented.
BOKA members were told the report was with the auditors.
However, this week the federations wrote to BOKA president, Tshepho Bathai demanding the release of the financial report. Hayashi-Ha, Kofukan, Japan Karate Association, International Sport Karate Association, Shito-Ryu, and Ryu-Shinkan signed the petition. “We wish to express concern and disappointment at the lack of due diligence that BOKA executive seems to be giving financial matters that concern the association.
Financial accountability forms the core of all institutions and we were hoping the executive will treat all financial matters with utmost and meticulous attention,” the letter reads.
The letter further stated that during the AGM, they were informed that the financial statements, financial report, and AUSC Region 5 Games report were not ready. “The president and the executive committee promised us that the reports would be presented on Wednesday (June 15). We are now in the third week from the said meeting but there are no indications that such meeting will be called,” the letter further reads. The federations stated that they have exercised patience and gave BOKA leadership time after the AGM to prepare the reports.
Through the letter, the federations demanded for a special general meeting to be held tomorrow. According to information reaching Mmegi Sport, BOKA executive committee met on Wednesday to discuss the contents of the letter. “The committee has rejected the letter arguing that they do not know the author. They claim that we did not follow the constitution. BOKA is aware of all our positions in all clubs so they cannot turn around and say they do not know us. They are just playing delay tactics,” a source said.
The source said if BOKA does not want to accept their request, the next step is to seek help from the Botswana National Sport Commission. “The main issue is financials. That is all we are asking.
Financials are not prepared overnight and the AGM was not an emergency. The financial report and technical report are main items in the agenda,” the official further said. It is said when Bathai announced his resignation during the AGM, it was just a move to silence the members. The source said the executive also thought a motion of no confidence was going to be passed against them. “We are not kicking them out. All we want is accountability. Even if they resign tomorrow, we will demand for the financial report,” the source said.
The informer said BOKA could not claim that they did not follow the constitution because this is not a new item. “We are following on a promise that they made to us during the AGM.
They cannot turn around and pull out the constitution card because we have pushed them into a corner. We signed that letter and stated our positions.” Bathai confirmed to Mmegi Sport that he had seen the letter. “I am not sure where it is coming from because it does not have names. Our members know the constitution. The notice for meetings is nothing less than 28 days,” he said.
Meanwhile, allegations are rife that some executive members are threatening to resign. With pressure coming from both fronts, Bathai might find himself in the middle of nowhere. November might seem too far for him to step down.