11 Feb 2025

Botswana Karate Association (BOKA) is embroiled in power struggles, which saw some members of the association convening a special general meeting on Saturday at Yarona Lodge in Mogoditshane.

The meeting was said to deliberate on what was considered serious concerns with regard to the current BOKA executive committee led by Sensei Mpho Bakwadi.

Conveners of the meeting alleged that the leadership disregarded the principle of good governance and violated the constitution on several occassions, hence they passed a motion of no confidence against the committee.

This led to the election of a new committee, which is expected to stay at the helm until June before the annual general assembly.

Keorapetse Mogopodi was elected as president, assisted by Moemedi Mpebe as vice president technical, while Veronica Tshube was elected the vice president administration.

Boitumelo Koone is was elected as the secretary general and will be assisted by Etellang Serumola,

Moses Hirschfield is the treasurer, while Moses Tubego is entrusted with the role of publicity secretary.

However, Bakwadi took no notice of the new developments on the basis that the special general assembly was unconstitutional, and it was a circle of friends whose aim was to destablitise karate.

“What I can tell you is that I am still BOKA president and nothing has changed. If people are aggrieved they have to follow the constitution,” said Bakwadi in an interview.

Asked why he was adamant that he was still BOKA president despite a motion of no confidence against his committee, Bakwadi said prior to the unconstitutional special general meeting, he received letters from six out of eight affiliates disassociating themselves from the special general assembly.

Bakwadi said all was well at BOKA and were busy with national team selection in the northern and southern parts of the country.

Meanwhile, concerns raised against Bakwadi and his team were that they had over time violated the constitution by failing to appoint BOKA commission, and failed to hold regular meetings as stipulated in the constitution.

Those disgruntled also complained of lack of financial transparency, arbitrary termination of members, unlawful appointments of coaches without following the prescribed procedures.

Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC), director for Sport Development, Peaceful Seleka said at the moment it was early for them to comment because there was nothing on their table from both parties.

“Also you must remember that karate is governing itself and we cannot jump to conclusion that the motion of no confidence was constitutional or not. As BNSC, in the event they both approach us, the role that we can play is that of mediation,” said Seleka. ENDS