The Botswana Karate Association (BOKA) affiliates are aiming their guns at the executive committee after the leadership turned down calls for a Special General Meeting.
Some affiliates wanted to pass a vote of no confidence on the committee through the special meeting. BOKA vice secretary-general, Francois Alberts, wrote letters to individual affiliates who had signed a letter calling for the SGM. The affiliates that received the letters are Kofukan, Ryushin-Kan, and Shito-Ryu Shukokai. Through the letter, Alberts accused the federations of engaging in activities that contravene the regulations and principles of BOKA. The affiliates wrote a letter to BOKA on December 12, 2024, but the correspondence, calling for an SGM, was only received on January 13. “Specifically, we are addressing the following serious concerns, collaboration with non-BOKA members: the letter received indicates that your federation has been working with individuals or organisations that are not recognised or affiliated with BOKA by signing a petition. Such collaborations are in direct violation of BOKA regulations and compromise the integrity of our governing structure,” the letter reads.
Alberts said the letter attempted to destabilise the current executive committee members. He noted that members of the federations have taken actions aimed at undermining the authority and functionality of the current executive, creating instability and bringing the support into disrepute. “These actions reflect a disregard for unity, stability, and proper governance of karate in Botswana. Such behaviour threatens to tarnish the reputation of all affiliated members and institutions under BOKA. You are hereby required to provide a detailed written explanation within 14 days from the date of this letter,” Alberts stated. According to a source, although the BOKA president Mpho Bakwadi refused the SGM, affiliates will proceed with the meeting. “He cannot stop us from holding the SGM, it is our constitutional right. Even if he does not show up, we will proceed. Remember, when they removed the previous committee, they did that in conjunction with a suspended member in 2022,” the source said. The official went on to say that the letters written to affiliates by Alberts are meant to scare them but that will not stop the clubs from pushing for the SGM.
The source said No Michi and Goju-Kai remain BOKA members and they had every right to be signatories of the petition. “Even the suspension of former secretary-general Tshepang Dick was uncalled for. He simply refused to pay for accommodation for eight athletes who were not initially part of the national team. We wanted to be provided with a bank statement, in that statement we expected to find an indication of the affiliation fee paid by No Michi. But they do not want us to see that,” the source said. The source went on to reveal that when Goju-Kai suggested that BOKA should deduct affiliation fees from the debt they owed, the request was refused. “This is confirmation that BOKA has agreed with your federation on the payment of three consecutive annual subscription fees (2022–2025) to be deducted from funds owed to your chief instructor, Christopher Ponatshego,” according to a letter signed by former president, Tshepho Bathai, in March 2022.
The informant said it was not going to be the first time that happened, because in 2018, BOKA deducted some money from a debt owed to The International Shotokan Karate Federation (ISKF) and paid their affiliation fee. The official further said Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) has disappointed the affiliates by failing to intervene in the BOKA mess. “We are not saying BNSC should take action, but they cannot just fold their arms,” the source added.