04 Oct 2020

Botswana Football Association (BFA) is confident that its virtual annual general assembly would run smoothly on October 10. 

Speaking during a press briefing in Gaborone on Saturday, BFA chief executive officer, Mfolo Mfolo, indicated that the association needed to hold the assembly as per BFA constitution, article 27.

He said their plans were derailed by COVID-19 restrictions. 

However, the association approached a presidential COVID-19 task force to be assisted on way forward.

On one hand, Mfolo said BFA also engaged Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) and Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development (MYSC) to come up with ways on how the general assembly could proceed.

For his part, BFA competition and club licensing manager, Setete Phuthego, pointed out that through consultation with BNSC and MYSC, a decision was reached to hold the general assembly virtually.

He indicated that at first they had two strategies that could be employed, being the use of internet on platforms such as zoom and Microsoft teams, adding that the second one was point to point (use of video).

Phuthego said taking into consideration how the two systems worked, their limitations as well as financial impact, a decision was reached to hold the congress virtually.

He highlighted that they also took note that BNSC had the license for this platform and that a lot could be done with the system such as recording and archiving. 

“It was an advantage since we had to archive and share with different stakeholders such as FIFA. That is how we chose to employ virtual platform instead of point to point,” he added.

Phuthego said they were confident that the general assembly would run smoothly, noting that a system test had been done.

A final practice, he said, would be conducted before the big day including all the venues to familiarise everyone with the platform, adding that it would also assist the IT team to see if there was need for any improvements.

Ntlogelang Modise, BFA electoral committee chairperson explained that the elections would be conducted just like the previous ones, indicating that pooling booth, ballot boxes as well as ballot papers would still be used.

She said an agreement was reached with all contesting camps to avail two polling agents at each venue except for Gaborone, adding that one agent from each team would be allowed in Gaborone because of the large numbers involved in the main centre.

Furthermore, she indicated that votes would be counted at polling stations and shown to the chairperson and his assistants at the main centre. 

“He would then add all the votes and announce the results,” she added.

Modise said the ballot papers had security features that would make it difficult to cheat.

To demonstrate transparency, a ballot paper account would be carried out to show the number that was brought, how many had been used and spoilt. Ends