BOKA defies BNSC
Calistus Kolantsho | Wednesday January 21, 2015 10:27
BOKA has said it would go ahead with a planned meeting on Saturday to elect new leaders, although the BNSC wants the vote set aside pending the implementation of a task force report.
The BNSC was forced to intervene last December when BOKA was plunged into a crisis following the resignation of four committee members.
Three committee members later rescinded their resignations, while president, Tshepo Bathai did not return.
An inside BOKA source said they would proceed with the meeting even without BNSC consent.
He stated that they have a constitution that guides them and BNSC should respect that. He said BNSC should not get involved in the affairs of karate.
“BNSC has no business in BOKA affairs. We want to put our house in order,” he said.
Contacted for comment, BOKA spokesperson Andrew Dobolo said affiliates would be meeting at the karate hall in Gaborone over the weekend.
The affiliates will be given an opportunity to elect a new president during the association’s meeting.
Other positions such as treasurer vice president-technical, public relations officer and vice president-administration would be up for grabs.
Dobolo mentioned that they want to do things in a way that will take the association forward.
Meanwhile, BNSC chairperson Solly Reikeletseng explained that there is a structure that runs sports in Botswana and each sporting code must be run according to their structure.
Despite that, he stated BOKA can do anything they want and he has no problem with that.
“We are not fighting with BOKA. We want to sort things out because we want to see the association moving forward. It is a process that should be done,” said Reikeletseng.
He further said the BNSC board has not discussed the report submitted by a task force set up last year.
The board is expected to meet and discuss the report this week. Reikeletseng said he decided to set up the task force because he was concerned about BOKA developments.
Reikeletseng said the board would implement the recommendations of the report.