BOKA foundation trust takes off
Botswana Karate Association (BOKA) president Tshepo Bathai said the official BOKA fund raising arm known as Botswana Karate Foundation Trust has officially begun operating. Bathai made note of this in an interview with Sun Sports this week. According to the BOKA president, the trust will engage the public, private sector and other stakeholders to partner with BOKA in various initiatives.
The president said that the primary purpose of the foundation is to advance, promote and support the mission of BOKA, which is to enhance excellence at the association by building relationships and resources that will enable karate to become one of the leading sport codes locally. Bathai explained that the trust is governed and made up of nine board trustees that include prominent members of the business community, government and parastatals.
Among others, the board has the likes of Chairperson Matlhogonolo Mponang; she is the current Deputy Executive Director- Corporate Services of Botswana Accountancy College. Vice Chairperson of the board is Thapelo Letsholo who has immense experience in communications and public relations across Southern Africa. The treasurer is the managing Director of Garona Group Lebogang Gaobakwe; the Secretary is Bathai, while paramount chief of Bakwena Kgosi Kgari Sechele is an additional member, together with Professional Chartered Accountant Fatema Khan.
The managing Director of IT-IQ Botswana Vish Sethi, Executive Chairman of River-Ridge Holdings Favor Marebole and Clinical Director at Blossoming Child Centre and Psychotherapist at Thuso Psychotherapy, Lucinda Thuso also make up the team as additional members. Bathai said that they will be aiming at bringing Karate to the community as well as being able to reward sport achievement in the country. The trust will also be used to improve the financial capacity of BOKA and lessen the heavy dependence on government funding. “We need finance to be able to develop Karate locally, and what we receive from the government is often not enough to meet our set targets,” he said.
The initiative was formulated back in 2014 when Bathai was elected as President of BOKA however he later resigned from the position and unfortunately the foundation collapsed too. Quizzed as to what he will be doing differently this time around he said. “We will be coming on full force even when my term elapses as BOKA president, I will hand over the trust to the those in power to ensure that the trust does not fall on our watch again,” Bathai assured.