SVM elections face scrutiny
Calistus Kolantsho | Monday April 7, 2025 14:13
Kgotlaetsile Moube, who wanted to contest for the position of Public Relations Officer (PRO), has written a complaint letter to the Ministry of Sport and Arts and the Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC). Moube is appealing the outcome of the elections that he withdrew from contesting after he felt that the elections committee was biased. “I observed that the elections committee exhibited bias, failing to adhere to Section 13.1.6 of the SVM policy. Furthermore, the chairperson, who had a direct conflict of interest, sought a mandate from the General Assembly instead of recusing herself. These actions led to a disregard of the movement’s established policies, as the General Assembly was improperly influenced to vote against the policy and allow guidelines to supersede it,” the letter reads. Moube argued that given the irregularities, he believes the election process was compromised, undermining the principles of transparency, fairness, and adherence to governance policies.
He said the BNSC should review how the elections were carried out and take necessary appropriate action to uphold integrity of the electoral process within the movement. Moube told SportMonitor that most candidates were men and it seemed like policy was being trampled on in order to add more women into the committee. He stated that the chairperson influenced regions to vote for the SVM policy to supersede the policy and that happened in the presence of BNSC officers who were elections observers. “During the AGM, the policy was put aside, as delegates felt that it was a mess and only used the elections guidelines. We simply ignored the policy and followed the guidelines,” he added. SVM secretary-general, Moses Poloko told SportMonitor that Moube is complaining against Gosego Nkwe, who was voted in as PRO, because he felt she has not been an SVM member for a year in order for her to qualify to contest for a position in the executive committee. “The general assembly agreed to give her a waiver because she will be turning one year as at yesterday (March 31).
The challenge is that we could not hold the elective AGM after March 31, hence it was important for the waiver. Before the elections, the issue of policy against the guidelines was debated. I have not seen the letter that Moube has written but I have heard about it,” Poloko said. Meanwhile, Poloko said SVM continues to face financial challenges, with the BNSC grant having been cut from P500, 000 to P250, 000. Elected board members: Vice chairperson: Tapson Patane, Moses Poloko (secretary general), Nathaniel Matsheka (treasurer) and Gosego Nkwe (PRO). Additional Members: Bokopano Kediretswe and Dikgang Solomon.