Netball battles disunity
Calistus Kolantsho | Friday October 10, 2025 09:57
An Extraordinary General Meeting (EOGM) that was to be held last weekend was adjourned, and clubs are accusing the National Executive Committee (NEC) of ignoring them. The meeting was to approve the financial reports and the new constitution. However, it failed to form a quorum as some clubs did not show up. Clubs in the Southern Zone wrote a letter to the NEC on September 17, requesting a meeting.
According to the letter signed by the zonal secretary, Ndabaka Kenosi, the purpose of the meeting was to engage BONA on matters pertaining to the smooth running of activities and strengthening collaboration between organisation and the zone. “We wanted to seek guidance on specific issues affecting our operations. We believe that this meeting will provide an opportunity to align our efforts with BONA’s objectives and ensure effective delivery of netball development within the Southern Zone,” the letter reads.
According to information reaching MmegiSport, clubs wanted to understand the league structure and the distribution of league prize money.
A source said the Northern Zone clubs also wrote a letter, but there was no response from the NEC to both zones' correspondence, which could have led to clubs boycotting the meeting.
“We agreed to travel to Palapye for an EOGM as a way of cutting costs for Northern Zone clubs, but now they are saying the meeting will be held in Francistown on November 8. “Why push the meeting too far when clubs are struggling financially? We are not in a hurry to approve the constitution; only the financial reports are critical. The executive committee is there because of us; they should listen to us when we cry. Things are getting out of hand; at the end of the day, athletes are going to suffer. Netball is going down,” the source said. The official stated they were advised by the Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) that the constitution should include policies, but the draft document does not include policies.
“Initially, a committee was to be appointed to review the constitution. This is the time for us to correct our things, so that we do not fall into the same trap.'
Reacting to the allegations, BONA president Mpopi Moatlhodi said the document is not new, but it is being reviewed.
“This is not a new constitution; it was only reviewed for currency, and the work was long done. What was left was for the members to adopt the revised version and this could have been done at the last Annual General Meeting (AGM). BONA does not approve the constitution; the revision is approved by the general membership at the AGM or Extraordinary Meeting (EOGM,' she said.
'What comes first, policies or the constitution? Is it the constitution, the supreme guiding document? Are the policies supposed to be aligned with the constitution? A constitutional review committee appointed by whom? Where was that decision made? According to the constitution, clubs are responsible for the review of the constitution,” Moatlhodi added.
On prize money, she said they do not have league sponsorship and cannot be talking about the distribution of funds that they do not have. “League prize money from where? They wrote to the NEC seeking an explanation on what?” Moatlhodi asked.
Regarding taking the meeting to Francistown, she said it should be remembered that there are clubs from different parts of the country, which is why the venue for meetings has to rotate.