BNOC election dispute heads to court
Calistus Kolantsho | Saturday November 1, 2025 06:22
In the court filings, he claims there were mismanagement, rigging and the undemocratic processes.
Sharp contested for the position of senior vice president position where he received seven votes while the winner, Michael Moroka got 23.
Speaking to MmegiSport, he said all National Federations (NFs) and the elections are expected to respond to his arguments in court.
Sharp said the committee has ignored letters that he submitted hence the decision to go court to court.
He added the elections were meant to be a beacon of democracy and a clear path to a brighter sporting future but became a glaring 'procedural chaos and potential systematic rot'.
Sharp argued that in an administrative blunder that threatened to unravel the entire election, he found his name inexplicably plastered onto the BNOC presidency nominees for a position he had not sought.
“My demand for rectification was met not with understanding, but with suspicion. This was not just a mistake, it was a seismic jolt that sent shock waves through Botswana sport.
“My question is what happens when the very body meant to protect athletes’ dreams is compromised,” he wondered.
Sharp complained about the vetting process saying it was poor, yet it was the most important process and there was no transparency.
He said there was also an element of intimidation for the NFs during nomination, saying they were threatened by some of the sitting board members who did not want to be challenged.
He said another anomaly was that a former chairperson of the Athletes Commission, Oteng Oteng voted. He pointed out that a new Commission is in place and it should have been the one used for the elections.
Sharp wrote a complaint letter to the nominations and elections chairperson, Charmaine Koveya, questioning the eligibility of Oteng.
In the letter, Sharp said Oteng was not entitled to vote, and his participation significantly undermined the integrity and transparency of the election process.
“My concerns are based on the provisions outlined in the BNOC constitution, specifically Article 12, Section 10 which states that each full BNOC member and board member shall be entitled to one vote per position. In addition, the Athletes Commissions and each IOC member who sits on the board shall be entitled to one vote each.
“The critical phrase here is the Athletes Commissions, which unequivocally refers to the current and officially constituted Athletes Commission,” the letter reads.
Sharp said there should be an immediate and thorough investigation into the eligibility of Oteng’s vote, if his ineligibility is confirmed, and that the results of BNOC board elections be nullified.
He also requested that there should be the organisation of new, credible and transparent elections ensuring strict adherence to the BNOC constitution and electoral rules, with all eligible voters, clearly identified and verified.
Sharp also submitted another letter seeking clarity on voting eligibility of full members based on compliance with the Societies Act during the elections.
He said NFs that have completed re-registration process are Tennis, Fencing, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Chess, Cricket, Dance Sport, Football, Golf, Netball, Swimming, Table Tennis, Volleyball and Wrestling.
“My concern is focused on any full members beyond those listed above, who may have voted but had not finalised their re-registration with the Registrar of Societies by the time elections took place. The nominations and elections committee should provide clarity on confirmation of compliance, list of compliant voters and action taker on non compliance,” he said.
Responding to Oteng eligibility, BNOC president, Tshepo Sitale explained that the new constitution not complete until the new board elects two board members into the current committee.
After that, the athletes commission will then seat and elect its chairperson.
“So, the board was dissolved but the athletes commission chairperson remains until the new chairperson is elected because his tenure is not based on elections but based on the athletes commission statutes,” Sitale said.
Meanwhile, Koveya said they are still debriefing on the elections, and they can only have a position on all election-related discussions afterwards.
BNOC CEO, Dorothy Tlagae-Gaseitsiwe, confirmed receiving three letters from Sharp.
In the correspondence, Sharp requested clarity on voting eligibility of full members, urgent inquiry regarding eligibility of Botswana Karate Association (BOKA) in recent BNOC board elections and urgent complaint regarding eligibility of Oteng Oteng.
She said the BNOC National Executive Committee (NEC) met on Wednesday to consider the contents of the letters. However, she said the NEC has no jurisdiction over Sharp's complaints.
“The constitution outlines NEC mandate on Article 12, the mandate being that of conducting board elections. The NEC has no authority and power to address complaints. There are relevant structures such as the Disciplinary and Resolutions Tribunal and Appeals Panel to address such grievances,' she said.
'Furthermore, NEC has no investigative authority to address contents on the letters, especially to nullify any results which were not brought forward prior or during proceedings of the Quadrennial General Assembly with evidence,” the letter to Sharp, reads.