Bakwadi appointed interim Karate president
Calistus Kolantsho | Tuesday September 27, 2022 11:47
Other members of the committee are Othusitse Dick (secretary-general), Kemmonye Seletamotse (treasurer) and Keorapetse Dube as public relations officer. Three additional members are Francois Alberts, Union Kgafela and Bose Caiphus who was the vice secretary general for the ousted committee.
The interim committee has been given a mandate to facilitate the election of a new executive committee within a period of four months. The committee should also investigate the status of expelled Shuko-kai Karate Union and check if they can be reinstated under the old or a new name. It has also been mandated to ensure that there is handover and the previous committee must account.
It was revealed that there were allegations of girls’ misuse during championships. The affiliates passed a motion of no confidence against the Tshepho Bathai committee during a Special General Meeting held over the weekend in Gaborone.
The meeting reinstated the International Shotokan Karate Federation Botswana (ISKF) who was suspended for an unconstitutional act. Passing the motion, chairperson of the Botswana Shito-Ryu Federation (BSF), Sensei Thupa Thupa said the executive committee felt that it was not accountable to the general membership. “As BSF, we are submitting that we have no confidence in their leadership and we propose that they vacate office immediately,” he said. Thupa also said it was painful especially when it comes to the national team.
He said they feel injured because in line with the BOKA constitution, it calls for the president to seat and oversee meetings, whether he is in agreement or not with the objective of the meeting, he shall seat in the meeting. “There is a letter that states that a member has been suspended because they were not adhering to the constitution.
The president wrote that letter and then after he does not adhere to the constitution that demands that he shall seat in all meetings and you can tell us that president adheres to the constitution? We feel undermined and disrespected,” he said. Thupa said affiliates were instructed not to attend the meeting where they can air their grievances.
He said the president and his committee decided not to honour the meeting. “Where will we communicate our concerns if we do not get facilitated where we can seat and discuss matters so that they can be solved? Where will we get that opportunity to engage our leadership? The executive committee is not taking us serious and they should be here,” he lashed out. Thupa said the executive committee should have been present in the meeting but instead they decided to be big headed and not attend.
He said the affiliates are not accountable to the executive but the other way round. Ryushin Kan Botswana chief instructor, Keorapetse Dube said the general membership is allowed to call a Special General Meeting. He argued that ISKF suspension was invalid. “We called the executive committee because there were issues that we wanted to discuss with them.
The entire committee is not fit to lead us. They are not even able to interpret the constitution. The constitution clearly states that affiliates have the right to call a Special General Meeting,” Dube said. JKA Botswana chairperson, Lere Basupang said it was important to be given financial reports. She said affiliates were informed that the last BOKA tournament was run at a loss and they want to know where the money went.