Eyes on Sedimo as contract ends
Calistus Kolantsho | Friday June 12, 2020 10:47
There are mixed feelings over whether he deserves another term at the helm of sport’s umbrella body. Sedimo joined the BNSC in October 2015 from the Department of Sport and Recreation. He declined to discuss his contract situation.
“I would be violating the Employment Act. There are stages and the contract has timelines. We are not at a stage where I should discuss it. I do not want to be seen in the media discussing my contract,” Sedimo said.
He said when the time is right, relevant stakeholders would be consulted and a way forward mapped.
Botswana Chess Federation (BCF) president, Mothokomedi Thabano said Sedimo is a good leader who is let down by his team. “Some members of his team might be failing him.
Honestly, Sedimo is a good man. It is unfortunate that his juniors would take you from pillar to post,” he said. However, Thabano believes Sedimo has to mend the working relationship with Botswana National Olympic Committee (BNOC). He said National Sporting Associations (NSA) face challenges over BNSC and BNOC turf wars.
Thabano said it was key to reward excelling codes, through improved grants. “I would increase the grant of the best codes the next financial year, to try and make other codes pull up their socks.
Chess was the code of the year and for their grant to be cut the following year, (it was slashed) by P20,000 from P540,000 to P520,000,” he said. Botswana Karate Association (BOKA) president, Tshepho Bathai said karate would welcome any decision regarding Sedimo’s contract.
“At times we might make our own conclusions only to find that it is an agreement with his employer. I think generally he is a good man. As BOKA we would welcome anything that the Minister of Sport would decide,” he said.
Former Botswana Softball Association, Tirelo Mukokomani is of the view that Sedimo’s contract should not be renewed. “He should be fired. There is nothing else he can do. It is not something that should be thought about.
He inspires nothing in sport, no business acumen, no leadership and nothing at all,” he said. BNSC board chairperson, Marumo Morule refused to comment on the matter.
Sedimo has overseen a restructuring exercise at BNSC, with some senior managers opting out. Directors, Kearabetswe Galebotse, Steve Bothasitse and Game Mothibi, were allowed to leave. Steady Basupang followed suit, jumping ship in March.
It is reported that contracts for Bobby Gaseitsiwe (development manager) and Kabelo Mmono (director-finance) end in August.
Gaseitsiwe has been accused of often misleading Sedimo, an accusation he denies.
“I respect leadership and it is my duty to advise the CEO so that he reports to the board. I am happy with what I have been doing,” he said.