Tsiane, Malesu face BNSC exit
Spira Tlhankane | Friday July 10, 2015 18:02
The rejected four include treasurer, Boitshoko Tsiane and additional member, Ookeditse Malesu. Others are Irene Ntelamo and Keenese Katisenge. Only two candidates, Daniel Molaodi and Gift Nkwe, got the thumbs up. Malesu, who has been serving as an additional member yesterday told Mmegi Sport that he is unaware of the reasons behind the rejection of his nomination. “From what I understand, it means I do not qualify for nomination. I have written a letter to them demanding an explanation, but they have not responded yet,” he said.
Malesu also said he will wait for the BNSC’s response but if he does not get a positive response, he would let go. “I am a sportsperson, I volunteer to serve my nation and if they do not see my worth, I will put my energy somewhere else,” he said. Malesu said the result of his rejected nomination would affect the codes that nominated him being bodybuilding and weighlifting, handball, Paralympic and Horse society.
Tsiane’s nomination has been discarded despite being supported by the Botswana Dance Sport Association (BDSA) and seconded by the Botswana Athletics Association (BAA).
He also told Mmegi Sport that no communication has reached him regarding the reasons for his invalid state. “I wrote a letter to BNSC, but they have not responded, so I will have to wait even though time is not on my side,” he said. Tsiane was however quick to specify that he would have taken action if there was an appeals board.
The Botswana Chess Federation (BCF) spokesperson, Keenese Katisenge was nominated by the Botswana Netball Association (BONA) and seconded by BCF, but her nomination was rejected. Katisenge, who recently won the administrator of the year award at the 35th annual BNSC awards said she was disappointed because the people who nominated her were interested in increasing the representation of women in the board. Katisenge added that it would be painful to see less or no women representation once the board is announced.
“We aimed for 40% women representation, but the rejection of my nomination gets in the way of that,” she said. Katisenge however indicated that she had accepted the decision. Ntelamo was nominated by the Botswana Boxing Association and seconded by Special Olympics Botswana. According the acting director of elections, Thato Kgosimore, all the nominees submitted by member affiliates had been either rejected or accepted in accordance with section 7.7 of the BNSC elections guidelines. “BNSC has elections guidelines so all of the invalid nominees did not pass the test. There is no way they can stand for the elections,” he said.
He also said the elections guidelines declare everything concerning what is expected of people who stand for elections as nominees. Kgosimore said invalid nominees who complain about lack of explanation know the process. “They know the steps to officially launch a complaint, there is always a room for an appeal, ” he said. Kgosimore indicated that they would go ahead with the elections with valid nominees. During the AGM, legislative changes that will see the Botswana National Sports Council continue under a new name, the Botswana National Sport Commission will be implemented.