DISGRUNTLEMENT FOLLOWS BOKA ELECTIONS
...as Bathai’s rather hallow victory raises eye brows at the karate mother body
It was a rather hallow victory for Botswana Karate Association (BOKA) president Tshepo Bathai following Association’s elective General Meeting (AGM) this past weekend as his rivals remain resolute and defiant after the election.
Some affiliates are up in arms and feel hard done by the tactics employed by the local Karate body ahead of the controversial indaba that saw the embattled Bathai vanquishing his rivals and retaining his position.
For much of his presidential term at the helm of BOKA Bathai has been marred by controversy stemming from systematic infighting and other inconstansies within the association. This past weekend Bathai was up against Mpho Bakwadi for the presidential seat, with the Bathai camp accused of using dirty tactics to intimidate their opponents. At some point Bakwadi was reported to be suspended by BOKA though the suspension was later lifted.
As if that was not enough, International Ryushinkan Karate Do Botswana federation was not invited for elections while their chief instructor, Keorapetse Dube was also omitted
from candidates list. It is also reported that three federations did not takepart in the elections as they walked out in protest of how the elections were conducted.
“We walked out of the meeting, Japan Karate Association of Botswana (JKA), Botswana Hayashi Ha, International Shotokan Karate Federation. This was mainly because they were trying to cheat by not allowing the rightful voters of JKA into the meeting. We could not go ahead with elections which were marred by so many irregularities. So don’t be surprised when you hear that the other camp won, it’s because we did not take part in the elections,” said a source who preferred not to be named. It has since emerged that Bakwadi, who lost to Bathai will protest the results of the elections and the manner in which the elections were held.
Following his victory, Bathai says he is not really bothered by the infighting since he believe they will come to an end. “Instability was done by one federation and it was because of the elections. I believe things will go back to normalcy so I’m not worried at all. Anyone can protest elections, it is allowed so it’s not something which is bothering me,” he said during a brief interview with this publication.The new committee is made up of Bathai as president, Samuel Dire and David Hubona as Vice president Administration and technical respectively. Karabo Samuel is the new secretary general and will be assisted by Bose Caiphus; Kutlwano Mukokmani is the treasurer while Isaiah Ramontshonyana retained the position of public relations officer.