The drama has heightened such that even before the ink dries on the paper, one of the parties issues a correspondence. This week, former president, Tshepho Bathai was slapped with a suspension letter over corruption and gross maladministration charges. Bathai’s term in office ended on October 6.
According to the letter, Bathai submitted an invoice dated April 4 to the Botswana National Sport Commission officials to pay for the Lobatse Sports Festival medals to the tune of P20,509 and P1,800 for the branding of medals. “We have on good record the Lobatse Sports Festival was not supposed to be funded from government coffers,” the letter reads. Bathai’s federation, Karate Nomichi Botswana has also been suspended for failing to pay the annual affiliation fee for 2022-2023. According to the suspension letter, Karate Nomichi is also accused of paying for the Lobatse Sports Festival medals through government funds, the same charge Bathai faces. The letter further reveals that in April, Bathai submitted an invoice of P7,562 to the BNSC, which was payment to Happy Soul Adventures, a company that owns Baratani Lodge in Otse.
