Karate embroiled in internal fight
Calistus Kolantsho | Saturday July 16, 2022 06:00
Last week, BOKA affiliates wrote a letter to the executive committee requesting for the 2021-2022 financial statement.
BOKA secretary-general, Karabo Samuel wrote back to the affiliates confirming that the executive committee had received the letter but questioned its authenticity. “The letter we received had only signatures that we could not say with certainty that they were affixed by the office bearers indicated on the letter as federation representatives. We wanted confirmation on that so that we are confident that indeed the members are aware of the letter and are the authors of the same,” he said.
Samuel said only one federation has not responded to the letter that he wrote. "Once all the federations respond to the affirmation, the executive committee would meet to decide on the way forward since it will be clear that the petition is from our members with numbers enough as per the BOKA constitution,” he said. The petition was signed by five affiliates being Hayashi-Ha, Ryushin-Kan, Kofukan, International Shotokan Karate Federation Botswana, JKA Botswana, and Shito-Ryu.
The affiliates have meanwhile scaled up the issue and engaged the Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) chief executive officer, Tuelo Serufho. In a letter to the sports umbrella body, the members have requested the BNSC to intervene and want BOKA to call a meeting to conclude the items of the June 11 AGM. “The executive committee had promised to have the finances ready by June 15.
After three weeks of waiting since the AGM on July 2, the executive committee wrote to the members informing us that the financials were not ready as the treasurer was outside the country,” the letter to BNSC reads. The affiliates said the executive had stated that the financials would be ready immediately upon his arrival. The members said they could not depend on such a vague statement.
The members wrote to BOKA seeking a Special General Meeting where the finances were to be discussed. “Unfortunately, the BOKA executive ignored the letter. As we write to you, we have no idea when the financials will be presented. We are aware that the treasurer is back,” the letter further reads.
BOKA president, Tshepho Bathai told Mmegi Sport that he was not aware of the letter to the BNSC.
“We have completed the financial report and have sent it to a Botswana Institute of Chartered Accountants-accredited accountant to be put in the proper format for audit. As we speak, the financial report has not been audited. It is not a requirement for an AGM.
According to our constitution, financials should be presented six months after financial year-end,” he said. Bathai said BOKA has held two general meetings in a year, the AGM and Ordinary General Meeting. He said during the AGM, there should be a presentation of financial statements.
Meanwhile, Mmegi Sport is informed that the federations wrote yet another letter to BOKA on Monday, requesting for a meeting in 28 days.