Fires stoked ahead of tennis meeting
Calistus Kolantsho | Friday November 25, 2016 15:00
The decision was taken on Wednesday, two days before the highly anticipated meeting, which has come as a surprise to some BTA affiliates.
BTA public relations officer, Shelton Benzah told Mmegi Sport yesterday that they decided to postpone the elections because they realised that most of the BTA membership is not compliant with the Registrar of Societies Act and the BTA constitution.
“We cannot have clubs which are not compliant as our affiliates. We want clubs to comply first. We have been pushing them to put their house(s)in order but it seems that was not enough,” he said.
Benzah said the date for the elective meeting will be decided on Saturday. He said clubs will be given a time frame to comply. He said as far as they are concerned only two clubs, Notwane and Gaborone are compliant. Benzah said that meant even if the elections went ahead, they were not going to form a quorum.
One of the affiliates speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal said the decision is a shock. He said it is clear the committee does not want to step down.
When asked about his committee’s term in office, Benzah admitted that they have overstayed. “We were (supposed) to step down in October but we did not because we were still sorting grievances of clubs,” he said.
Meanwhile, BTA leadership has come under heavy criticism from affiliates for a range of deviances ranging from term of office, abuse of powers, constitution amendment, amongst others.
It has been reported that there is no proper audited accounts shared with affiliates nor the Registrar of Societies since 2009.
According to information reaching Mmegi Sport, out of the following clubs; Police, Makhubu, Lady Khama, UB, BDF SSKB, Thebephatshwa, BDF Selebi-Phikwe, BDF Donga and Molepolole, only Donga, Orapa, Gaborone, Notwane, UB and Lady Khama have paid their affiliation fees to BTA.