Mmegi

'Coup' fails to silence BOKA's guns

Leadership change: BOKA affiliates during last weekend's SGM. PIC:PHATSIMO KAPENG
Leadership change: BOKA affiliates during last weekend's SGM. PIC:PHATSIMO KAPENG

The war between the Botswana Karate Association (BOKA) members rages despite purported change of leadership during a Special General Meeting (SGM) held over the weekend, where an interim committee was voted in.

Ousted BOKA president, Mpho Bakwadi, is not flinching, arguing the SGM was an illegal gathering. He went on to reject a letter written by the interim committee calling for a handover, which was to be completed yesterday. In the letter addressed to interim president, Keorapetse Mogopodi, Bakwadi said their position is that there was no lawfully convened meeting as purported in his (Mogopodi) letter. “Your conduct of unlawful and unauthorised usage of BOKA letterhead in your communication constitutes criminal conduct. We shall accordingly engage the relevant authority to address this forgery,” Bakwadi said. He said they noted the composition at the SGM included suspended and non-members. Bakwadi demanded to be furnished with minutes and resolutions taken at the alleged meeting. He said a tournament planned for this weekend, will go on as planned despite reports to the contrary by the interim committee. In one of the letters, interim secretary-general, Boitumelo Koone, informed the BOKA office and the Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) about the members of the interim committee.

In another letter, Koone requested the BOKA executive committee to hand over the office. “We invite yourselves to the handing over of the BOKA office to the interim committee scheduled for February 13, 2025, at the BOKA office. This follows a ‘motion of no confidence’ that was passed on the president and his committee in a Special General Meeting (SGM), which was held on February 8 at Yarona Country Lodge in Mogoditshane,” the letter reads. Koone said an interim committee had been appointed to take over hence such an invitation for a smooth handover.

Editor's Comment
Human rights are sacred

It highlights the need to protect rights such as access to clean water, education, healthcare and freedom of expression.President Duma Boko, rightly honours past interventions from securing a dignified burial for Gaoberekwe Pitseng in the CKGR to promoting linguistic inclusion. Yet, they also expose a critical truth, that a nation cannot sustainably protect its people through ad hoc acts of compassion alone.It is time for both government and the...

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