Tensions ahead of Softball AGM
Softball Botswana Softball Association (BSA) are headed for their elective general assembly which is billed for Saturday 27 April 2024 and tension is gathering momentum within the association with leadership positions up for grabs.
On the 2nd of April 2024, BSA announced a list of National Executive Members (NEC) who have expressed interest to contend for positions at the assembly, with the incumbent president, Katlholo Mosimanegape and former president, Tirelo Mukokomani set to battle for the top post.
It appears however that, some members of the association are not entirely content with how the governing body presided over finalizing the list and suggest that some key constitutional steps have been violated or deliberately ignored in the process.
The delinquencies according to the aggrieved camp would not be tolerated and they have since written a letter, which BG Sport is in possession of, to the BSA board to present their qualms and called for rectifications to be made.
“We believe the BSA NEC violated Article 12.1(j) when calling for nominations for positions of the National Executive Committee, which reads thus: nominations shall be received from the clubs at least 30 days before the annual general meeting; the nominations were closed on the 31st March 2024 which is a violation of the article which makes the nominations a nullity,” part of the letter sent to BSA executives from three (3) clubs reads.
This publication has gathered that, the closing date for submission of nominees was done three days before the actual date for closure. Dinare, Titans and Panthers softball clubs have all signed the letter and called for the BSA board to put in writing assurances that the normality will be rectified at the AGM before the elections.
“We sincerely believe that this was a not deliberate but a genuine mistake which can be easily corrected to avoid bad precedence. Correcting the anomaly is for the good of softball in general and no one will be prejudiced,” they write.
The said parties also expressed their willingness to come to a table before the AGM and discuss the best way forward and avoid delaying the AGM proceedings and possible nullification of election results thereafter.
BG Sport has learnt that there is a team of women who are looking to challenge for BSA National Executive Committee positions and their names were not captured before the BSA announced the list.
Masego Kwape is said to be leading the said team willing to challenge and they are determined to put their best foot forward to take charge of the local softball office.
Reached to offer clarity on the matter, the BSA Public Relations Officer, Kelly Monyake confirmed that indeed the Association has received the letter.
“The letter was sent this morning [Wednesday], the board is yet to deliberate on the way forward and all necessary communication will be done once a decision has been made,” she said.
BG Sport has also been reliably informed that the constitution of BSA allows that nominations can be done from the floor at the AGM, which will offer all interested parties to be voted into office despite not being listed in the nominees list.