Leaders should learn to take criticism

Mqondisi Dube | Wednesday July 28, 2010 00:00

Finest athletesLeungo Matlhaku recorded a dashing 24.83 secs in the 200 metres, which rates among the fastest times on the continent both at junior and senior level. At a young age of 15, Matlhaku should be destined for greater things and the Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) should take note and lay out a clear development plan for her and other promising athletes.

Week's disappointmentThe Premier League's failure to hold its annual general assembly due to the non-availability of minutes and the financial report. Delegates travelled from all corners of the country for a non-event. This should be a lesson to the game's administrators to put their house in order, including attending to minor detail like minutes. Crucially, we should see leaders owning up to their blunders, rather than adopt a pedestrian approach to issues as if everything is in order.

Talking pointExpectedly, ministers, Kitso Mokaila and Shaw Kgathi parried blows thrown at them over the 2010 World Cup fiasco. Are we constantly in denial to an extent that we pretend all is well even in adversity? Evidently, there was everything wrong with the way the 2010 Task Force operated. To start with, it had no budget, and secondly all the facilities were not of required standard. I doubt if the absence of a Task Force would have made any difference. Instead of coming out and giving the nation a deserved apology, fingers instead turn and point at a different direction. There is need to seriously introspect and apportion blame where it is due. But sadly, government red tape seems to get even in the way of an apology.

The stat24.83 secs, the time recorded by track star, Leungo Matlhaku at the Africa Youth Games in Morocco.

The quote'We didn't think that it would be a problem to present the financial report to the assembly on the same day. It is not a dent although it is a disappointment,' BPL general manager, Phuthego Setete after the BPL general assembly was adjourned.