30 Mar 2015

2014 was a turbulent year for Botswana Karate Association (BOKA) and it marked the shortest term for leadership of a sport code.

Minister of Sport, Youth and Culture, Thapelo Olopeng told BOKA delegates in a special general meeting on March 28.

“When I hear of unrest in karate I get very disappointed,” said Olopeng, who retired at brown belt under the tutelage of Sensei Soccer Moruakgomo.

Olopeng’s call came in the wake of BOKA being previously engaged in bitter internal feuds that were seen as being the centre of the rot, which rocked the executive committee leading to the resignation of four members including ousted president, Sensei Tshepho Bathai.

Factional divisions and embezzlement of funds were fingered as some of the challenges bedeviling the organisation. The wrangles triggered the establishment of a commission of inquiry by the Botswana National Sports Council (BNSC) board and they presented their findings at the end of January.

“I got an official briefing from the chairman regarding the state of affairs in your organisation. As per the powers vested in me through the BNSC Act, that it has become apparent that the manner in which your executive committee runs the affairs of the organisation in a way that brings discredit to the sport, disregarding or prejudicing the proper interests of its members, I had to take proper action with guidance from the executive committee of the BNSC,” he said.

That led to the minister dissolving the executive committee and setting up an interim committee that was chaired by incoming president, David Mathe, to temporarily oversee the organisation in preparation of the reinstatement of appropriate leadership.

“Distinguished delegates, we need not assume that bygones shall be bygones. I therefore advice you to find an opportunity after this meeting of today to interrogate all the wrongs of the past and provide necessary interventions o forestall the pitfalls in the future.

Today you have an opportunity to introspect, exercise so much care in your decision making process and elect your executive committee that you have the full confidence that they will deliver your mandate,” said the minister.

Minister Olopeng warned that commendable achievements in karate were likely to diminish very fast if they did not guard and protect core values in the manner in which business was conducted. ENDS