Chobe FA chairperson faces defamation charges
Chakalisa Dube | Monday October 3, 2022 16:00
Chenjekwa through his attorneys Maiba Law Chambers accuses Balisi of publishing falsehoods to the president of the Botswana Football Association (BFA), Maclean Letshwiti, that he (Chenjekwa) encourages hate speech and discrimination.
As a result, Chenjekwa is demanding a formal apology from Balisi. In his letter demanding an apology, Chenjekwa added that the association relied on the alleged falsehoods from Balisi to block him from contesting for the upcoming regional election.
He was expected to challenge Balisi for the position of chairperson at the election billed for this month. “Your malicious statements have hindered client from partaking in that which is most dear to him.
With the foregoing, we hold instructions to demand as we hereby do that you retract the said malicious report, that you offer a public apology and that you cause the suspension of client to be lifted,” reads parts of the letter to Balisi.
The letter of demand is dated September 26, 2022. Balisi was given seven days to have complied with the contents of the letter. Chenjekwa has threatened that he will go to court if Balisi does not comply with his request. In an interview on Friday, Chenjekwa confirmed that he has engaged attorneys to clear his name from false assertions reportedly made by Balisi against him.
He said that his intention is not to go to court. He said that his wish is that Balisi could clear his name so that he can be allowed to contest for the election. “Balisi is my brother. Chobe football needs the two of us. We have to bury the hatchet and work together to improve football in our region. He was one of the first people I spoke to about my intention to contest the elections in Chobe.
He did not have a problem with my candidacy,” Chenjekwa said. Contacted for comment, Balisi’s curt response was that he has ‘not received a letter’. This is contrary to what Chenjekwa told Sport Monitor. Meanwhile, there is swelling opinion that Chenjekwa’s suspension was motivated by the fact that he is viewed as someone who does not support Letshwiti.