Call to dissolve BNSC
Friday, November 08, 2024 | 80 Views |
Brave call: Tshube PIC: MORERI SEJAKGOMO
Tshube was previously with the UB's Department of Sport and Exercise Psychology before moving to the US. “If you look at the BNSC staff budget/wage bill if you like, the Botswana National Olympic Committee (BNOC) wage bill is lower. Then you look at the amount of money the BNSC spends on utilities and stadiums and all other things. You also take the amount of money the BNOC spends on rent, utilities amongst other things, to be honest, that is bleeding the government,” he said.
Tshube said the two organisations are failing to optimise the use of resources if they function parallel as they do. “If you go and look at the BNSC strategic goals, they talk about winning medals at the Olympic Games. If you go to BNOC strategic goals, they talk about the same thing. If you look at the Sport Act, in its description of the BNSC, it talks about elite sport. If you look at the BNOC documents, it is the same thing. In my view it is time and has been time for a long time to merge the two organisations,” he said. Tshube suggested that the technical and programmes departments from the BNSC should move to the BNOC and the organisation should be resourced to meet the mandate of elite sport.
When claims of such gravity are made, especially by a sitting Assistant Minister they cannot be brushed aside, delayed, or treated as routine political noise. Even the Ombudsman has confirmed receipt of a report from a political party and a review of these complaints is now underway. That is a necessary first step. But it is only the beginning. The seriousness of the allegations demands urgency, transparency and clarity. The public is entitled to...