SONA leaves bitter taste for sport
President Mokgweetsi Masisi’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) delivered on Monday left the sport fraternity with a bitter aftertaste.
Sport had expected a lot from the President’s speech, but one long sentence was all about an evolving critical sector.
“The National Sport Commission Act is also being reviewed to facilitate sport to contribute to the economy through commercialisation and professionalism, as well to improve the welfare and the rights of our sportspersons,” was the only sentence on sport in the President’s long speech.
Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) chairperson, Marumo Morule said they were disappointed to hear the President only talk about the BNSC Act review. “In future we would like our issues to be covered at length in the SONA address. There are many issues that have to be dealt with in sport besides the Act. We should engage our minister about other issues such as the recent Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that was signed between the BNSC and Botswana National Olympic Committee (BNOC),” he said.
Morule said another issue that he thought would be addressed was the issue of school sport. He said the school sport challenge is not only for BNSC, the Ministry of Basic Education and Ministry of Local Government but a government issue.
“The same way that they are dealing with Curriculum Development should be the same as with school sport because it is part of development system. However, credit must be given to the government on infrastructure development. We have stadiums across the country and others are being built. But what happens after that?” he wondered.
He said sport must put their case forward to the next level. Morule said sport codes should provide their minister with sufficient information and resources to enable him to lobby Cabinet.
When asked what happened to the long awaited indoor sport complex that was to house basketball, netball, boxing and karate, Morule said the project would entail a deliberate decision because BNSC could not afford to fund the facility.
He said their entire grant cannot cover the project costs. He said the project needs cooperation between government and private sector.
He added that the Public-Private Partnership model could also be used. Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development permanent secretary, Kago Ramokate said ministers contribute to the SONA through their sectors.
“The final decision is taken by the President on what he could share with the nation. What follows after the SONA is the budget. Minister Tumiso Rakgare would deal with other issues affecting sport during the committee of supply because he would be in control of what he wants to say,” Ramokate said.