Confusion over karate�s funeral scheme
Calistus Kolantsho | Thursday December 3, 2015 15:12
Bathai’s committee, which was voted out last year, initiated the scheme. Bathai said during his tenure, they reached an agreement with an insurance company to administer the scheme. He said the only process that was left was the implementation which included completion of membership forms by the karatekas.
He said it was disappointing that the scheme is not being utilised. “The forms are there at BOKA office and it is shocking for the president to say that he is not aware of the scheme,” he said. But Mathe contradicted his predecessor, insisting there was no such arrangement in place. He said even before he became president, when he was still an ordinary BOKA member he never heard about the scheme. He said even though Bathai is no longer in the association, some people who were in his committee are in the current executive. He said the surviving committee members could have advised on the existence of such a scheme.
Mathe said after being elected into office, they did not find anything regarding the scheme. He said as a new committee, they are mooting the idea and would want to involve all stakeholders.
“The discussions about the scheme have not been concluded by my committee. The plan is to inform affiliates as soon as we have reached an agreement on how the scheme would work. We have to agree on how premiums would be paid. Parents should also be brought onboard because most of the athletes are students,” he said. Despite that, Mmegi Sport is reliably informed that a funeral scheme exists for karatekas.
An official who preferred anonymity said Bathai had written to affiliates informing them about an agreement that was reached with one insurance company. He said it was unfortunate that the handover from the old to the new committee was not done hence the confusion.
Meanwhile, Bathai said when he left office, BOKA Trust was formed and a board of trustees was appointed. He said the mandate of the trust was to raise funds and other resources for the benefit of deserving athletes, coaches and administrators. Bathai said the trustees were disappointed when he left office.
“I tried to plead with them to stay, but they decided to leave since they wanted to work with me. I was out of office and they also wanted out,” he said. Bathai said BOKA receives P1 million grant from Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) on an annual basis, which is not enough to implement all projects.
He said this was the reason why there was need for board of trustees to assist with fund raising. Mathe said it was possible that they overlooked the trust. He admitted his committee was quick to dismiss ideas of the previous committee. Mathe said he was willing to have Bathai onboard because he was spearheading the idea of a trust. The BOKA president said they have not dismissed the board of trustees and they are ready to work with them. However, Bathai said he was not keen to be part of the BOKA committee.