The proposed merger between Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) and Botswana National Olympic Committee (BNOC) seems to be going in the right direction.
On Monday the two sporting institutions signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to work together for the next five years.
The signing of the MoU by the country’s two sport regulation bodies is expected to ease tensions between them.
Relationships between the two bodies have at times been frosty and past efforts to bring them together was a tall order, with big brother mentality reigning supreme among the boards and management of the two.
According to the BNSC chairperson, Marumo Morule, their cooperation will see them share limited resources while also eliminating duplication of roles by either party, something which has at times been the root cause of bad blood between the two.
“This will work towards sport development and together we will talk of Botswana Sport. Create better efficiencies through merging other committees existing at the parties that have duplicating roles and responsibilities,” observed BNSC chairperson.
The MoU mandate the two parties to align their strategies, (BNSC Vision 2028) and BNOC 2017 – 2020 strategic plan) to ensure a common vision and aligned targets.
They will also establish an international Games committee for all sport competitions. The committee will have dual reporting to the parties depending on the games.
BNSC and BNOC are also expected to promote mass participation sport programmes.
The MoU also directs that the two bodies must come up with standardised allowances/incentives for national teams.
On code of conduct it is expected that they consolidate BNSC and BNOC codes of conduct into a Botswana sport code of conduct.
The other objective is to have sport awards that will be run by the two. It will no longer be BNSC sports awards.
The MoU is expected to work as a catalyst towards merging the two. For the two to merge, there is need for legislation to change and so that it can allow for that.
Minister of Sport, Tumiso Rakgare is advocating for merging the two. He is of the view that duplication of roles is wasting resources that could be used towards development of athletes.
As part of enforcing the MoU, the BNSC and BNOC boards are also expected to at least meet twice every year.
