01 Mar 2020

Women and Sport Botswana (WASBO) has elected a new committee which is expected to run the organisation for four years.

The five committee members were elected unopposed during the annual general assembly in Gaborone on Saturday.

The new committee members are Ndzibonela  Payet, who is a French lecturer at the University of Botswana, and also manager of Bears Softball Club. As the chairperson, Payet will be assisted by Refilwe Ben who has served as a volunteer in different sporting codes.

The new WASBO secretary is Botswana Taekwondo Federation vice president,  Celia Chikaonda, who also served on numerous positions within Lions Clubs. She was also a district cabinet chairperson for four countries, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Botswana.

Shelton Benzah was elected the marketing and publicity officer. She is a physical education teacher, sports coordinator and sports manager at Northside Primary School. Benzah was also the public relations officer for the National Executive Committee for Botswana Tennis Association for six years.

The position of treasurer went to Patricia Letshwenyo.

In her acceptance speech, Payet said it was important for them to understand their strategy and policies for them to function as a committee.

“I believe that women are capable, but they are also vulnerable, especially the girl child.

I have seen that, and it makes me very sad.

I am happy for this opportunity because it gives me the card to do something,” she said.

Furthermore, Payet said her committee would work on the IWG legacy in their effort to create a safe environment for both women and young girls in sport.

Earlier on, the Gaborone region outgoing chairperson, Keenese Katisenge said they had an empowerment workshop and IWG Big 5 legacy presentation which was organised by WASBO through Botswana National Sport Commission focusing on leadership.

She also said the WASBO national executive committee attended the TAFISA-AUSC Region 5 training where they were equipped to train other women through a mentorship programme.

The mentees, she said, were undergoing four interface sessions with trainers using the set leadership curriculum with the trainers.

She said on completion of the theory, participants would be attached to their sports bodies for a practical aspect of the mentorship programme and graduate after 14 months. ENDs