Deaf Sport left in the cold
Calistus Kolantsho | Saturday April 15, 2023 06:00
In October 2022, the Deaf Sport wrote a letter to the Paralympic Association of Botswana (PASSOBO) requesting funding for an annual general meeting and the deaf sport leadership training.
PASSOBO rejected the request informing the federation that it had exhausted funds for 2022-2023 as per its planned activities. PASSOBO secretary-general, Sekwena Ngwato reminded the Deaf Sport through a letter that a meeting between the two organisations failed on numerous occasions due to other commitments.
“As you may be fully aware of how the Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) works with its funding, PASSOBO practices the same procedures to its affiliates, your federation included. “Communication was sent to your organisation to submit an activity plan together with a budget when the year started, but unfortunately, we have not received anything which translated that your organisation does not have activities,” Ngwato said in the letter.
PASSOBO president, Tshepo Mafereka told Mmegi Sport that the Deaf Sport is not their responsibility. He said funding for the Deaf Sport should be channelled from BNSC, not PASSOBO. “We are assisting the Deaf Sport with funding because we feel sorry for them.
Despite that, this financial year we received P200,000 which is not enough to be shared by the two organisations. When we receive a grant from the International Paralympic Committee, there are strict instructions that the funds are for Para sport,” he said. Mafereka said the funds they have received are being used to prepare for Paris 2024 games.
He said they have tried to ask for funding from the Botswana National Olympic Committee (BNOC) with no luck. “The government should take responsibility for deaf sport, not PASSOBO,” he added. Deaf Sport president, Shirley Keoagile said the deaf sport continues to struggle in Botswana. “We have nobody to assist us, we have been paying PASSOBO annual subscriptions but to learn that they do not see us as an affiliate is shocking. They rejected our funding request. I intend to appeal the decision.
It is time for the Deaf Sport Botswana to be independent,” she said. When asked why they did not submit a plan of activities, Keoagile said they did, only to be told that it was not approved by the BNSC.
She said the way things are being done, it appears authorities have forgotten that Botswana has ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). “So they are now feeling sorry for sport for people with disabilities.
Why are they attaching emotion to this when they know it is the obligation and the right for the deaf sport to be given equal support like all disability sport in the country?” she wondered. Keoagile said PASSOBO should lead by example and not apply the big brother mentality and discrimination against deaf sport. She said PASSBO recognises the Deaf Sport Federation only when it suits them.
Keoagile said the Deaf Sport Federation leadership will meet on April 22 to map a way forward.