BOKA anticipates peaceful elections
For the very first time in the history of Karate, the candidates for all the positions are uncontested as they head to their elective general assembly. This comes in the wake of a challenging 2022, which saw the then president of the association, Tshepo Bathai unceremoniously removed from office, following numerous reports of office abuse and maladministration.
An interim committee led by Mpho Bakwadi was then tasked to steady the ship for a period of four (4) months while also mapping a way forward to realign the sport and its future developments.
The four months have elapsed and an election day has been set; a communique was shared early December last year by the association for those who are interested to contest for positions to forward their names by 1st January 2023.
On January 1st, there were still no names put forth to express interest and the interim committee extended the closing date by another four (4) days and no new developments took place.
The January 21st 2023 ordinary general gathering will therefore see all the interim members ratified to become BOKA’s new executive committee.
“BOKA members were all given a chance to forward their names to be candidates. The names have been forwarded and Mpho Bakwadi will stand for presidency position and all other candidates are unopposed,” BOKA’s interim Public Relations Officer, Keorapetse Dube shared.
Dube further indicated that it is a positive statement that the interim committee members are unopposed, as they stand in unison to trust Bakwadi and his committee to revive the local sport.
“It shows that the Karate family is in agreement, when people agree on something, they don’t oppose each other,” he said.
BOKA’s PRO also shared that there has been no smooth transition from the previous committee and a proper handing over is yet to be done.
He said that the constitution will guide them in terms of the next step to take.
“It has not been easy, the previous committee had claimed that they were removed from office unconstitutionally; they even called a meeting which was shunned by the general members of the association. They are yet to hand bank accounts, Facebook page and other items that belong to the office and it has been a challenging task but it will be addressed soon,” Dube said.
Dube said they will not shy away from taking relevant action against all those who have to account to BOKA office, noting that they will follow all necessary steps, guided by the association’s constitution and the laws of Botswana to take action against the perpetrators.