Should affiliates elect BNSC chairperson?

MOSAH MOKGANEDI
Correspondent | Monday August 2, 2010 00:00

 

He said for purposes of governance, affiliates should be given a chance to vote for the person that they want to lead them. 'I will prefer an elected leader than an appointed one,' he said.

But Botswana Chess Federation (BCF) president, Tshepo Sitale, does not have a problem with the current situation. He understands that the government through the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture sponsors sport and should a say in its running.

He said if sports can grow and stop depending on the government for finances, then voting the chairperson by affiliates will be easy.  He said in an election affiliates, get the chance to vote for the person they want.  He said voting can help affiliates to hold the chairperson responsible if he or she does perform.

Botswana Softball Association (BSA) president, Marumo Morule, defines the current situation as a two-way process.He does not have a problem with the chairperson either being elected or appointed.  Morule said the ministry finances sports and is interested in seeing how the money is used hence it appoints BNSC chairman. 'They should have influence but not control in the way things are done,' he said. He asserted that if voted to office, the chairperson will be inclined to listen to the affiliates. However, he said the current arrangement has worked well since he has never seen a situation where the appointed chairperson ignores the views of the general membership. 'I have not seen the current situation's side effects, the general membership still have a saying and I think that is one thing that people always overlook,' Morule said. wBotswana Karate Association (BOKA) president, Gift Nkwe, does not have a problem with the current situation.  He said if anything, the criteria used in selecting the chairperson is the one that should be changed. He does not see how the appointed chairperson cannot listen to affiliates views because he or she is guided by the sports policy.

Botswana Rugby Union (BRU) president, Bob Lekan, is also comfortable with the current arrangement where the minister appoints the BNSC chairperson. Lekan said that it is not everyday that things will happen the way affiliates want and that if the chairperson fails, it will be only because he or she is human not that he or he is incapable.