BOTESSA’s presidential seat up for grabs

 

Botswana Tertiary Students Sport Association (BOTESSA) Vice-President Technical, Keorapetse Setlhare is reported to be positioning himself well to take over as president, BG Sport can confirm. BOTESSA will be going to the polls on the 22nd of February 2019. This comes after the resignation of former president Herbert Letsebe late last year due to ill health.

BG Sport was this week reliably informed by sources within the BOTESSA structures that the man who used to be Letsebe’s right hand man, Setlhare, is gunning for the presidential title. Actually he is the man who is currently in charge of the BOTESSA office since the departure of Letsebe. On paper, it does not seem like an ugly transition of power, where a deputy takes over when his boss steps down, however with BOTESSA contested re- elections, it appears there is more to the matter than meets the eye.

According to highly placed sources, Letsebe and Setlhare’s relationship deteriorated in the last few months leading to Letsebe’s resignation. In fact, it was even alleged that Setlhare has long fancied his chances. At the time, divisions had rocked the association, with issues of unprofessionalism and funds embezzlement prevalent. This saw even some members of the national executive committee suspended from office.

However, things appeared to have stabilized with time and BOTESSA was able to bring in First National Bank Botswana (FNBB) as a sponsor. FNBB pumped a massive P3 Million into BOTESSA coffers. Despite the successes, it is alleged that both Setlhare and Letsebe had lost confidence and trust in each other.

During the association’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Maun in December last year, it was revealed that BOTESSA is knee deep in debt. The debt was reported to be close to two million and was accumulated during the Confederations of University and College Sports Association (CUCSA) Games held back in June 2018. The association has not cleared the debt yet.

Another alleged entrant in the presidential run is Jomo Moalosi, a man who served as a Secretary General (SG) more than eight years ago and is now said to be planning a return to the BOTESSA scenes.Moalosi is alleged to have the support of some affiliates who believe Setlhare is too ambitious and very young for the BOTESSA ultimate position. This would mean the 31-year-old Setlhare will have to prove his mettle against the experienced Moalosi who has been observing developments at BOTESSA for the longest period.      

While the build up to the elections heats up, the association spokesperson, Duncan Segabo has revealed that the BOTESSA elections committee met this past weekend under closed doors. The committee is expected to release the opening and closing dates for those intending to contest for the top seat as early as next week.

The elections committee is expected to officially announce the names of nominees once the vetting processes have been concluded. “For now, even those interested are not allowed to publicly say it until their names are approved by the elections committee,” Segabo said.