Ex-BFA CEO fights for reinstatement
Chakalisa Dube | Saturday June 11, 2022 06:00
Taylor was dismissed from her position nearly three months back after she was found guilty by a BFA tribunal of misallocating FIFA funds amounting to P6.2 million. The funds were diverted to other BFA projects instead of FIFA sanctioned initiatives. Taylor maintains that the misallocation was necessary as the association was struggling to meet its financial obligations. An investigation by FIFA representatives found that the funds were misallocated without approval by the BFA National Executive Committee.
However, FIFA did not sanction the association because the funds were not embezzled. On Wednesday, Taylor and the BFA met at the District Labour Office in Gaborone before a mediator. At the meeting, Taylor insisted that she be reinstated because her sacking was not procedural. But the BFA, represented by Taylor's successor, Mfolo Mfolo, maintained the contrary. Mfolo was accompanied by the association’s legal officer. Taylor maintains that no investigation report was ever availed to her during her case, ultimately meaning that the hearing process was not fair. “As part of a fair hearing process one is entitled to an investigation report, which it is expected would carry the full basis and nature of the allegations he or she faced.
This enables a respective person to be in a position to answer to such allegations,” reads part of Taylor’s submissions at the labour department this week. Taylor also claims that she was not given enough time to make final submissions and mitigation after her hearing. “Instead, I got to know about my dismissal through a social media post that a friend had shared.
At this time I was still waiting for the BFA to confirm the dates for final submissions and mitigation,” reads part of the submissions by Taylor. Taylor also said she demanded crucial information from the association to effectively defend herself, but it was not availed. In an interview with Mmegi Sport yesterday, Taylor confirmed that she intends to take the BFA to the Industrial Court after the two parties could not reach an amicable agreement at the labour office. She was, however, reluctant to share more details about her case. When contacted for comment, Mfolo said he was in a meeting and promised to call back which he had not done at press time.