Botswana Karate Association (BOKA) is facing an implosion, insiders at the embattled sporting code say.
At the root of this impending division is the battle between Mpho Bakwadi led BOKA executive committee and some disgruntled members. On the 12th of December 2024, the disgruntled affiliates wrote to the executive demanding a special general meeting on the 8th of February 2025.
In their letter, which was allegedly signed by two thirds of members, the affiliates’ intention is not hidden. They want the current BOKA executive committee out of office and a new one in.
“According to article 11.1 of the BOKA constitution, ‘a defective Executive Committee and or Appeals Board can be voted out at a Special General Meeting, which may be requested by 2/3 of BOKA members,” the aggrieved affiliates cautioned in the letter.
The letter, which has been widely shared, accuses the Bakwadi led executive committee of failing ‘to uphold the principles of good governance’ and ‘violating’ the BOKA constitution in several instances.
While the pressure from the aggrieved affiliates mount, the Bakwadi led executive is adamant no special general meeting will take place. Their argument is that the withdrawal of three affiliates from the petition collapses the two thirds majority required to compel the association to convene a meeting.
The three affiliates who withdrew from the petition are JKA Botswana World Federation, Botswana Shito-ryu Federation (BSF) and International Ryushin-kan Karate Do Botswana (IRKBO). In a letter to BOKA, JKA Botswana said their withdrawal came ‘after extensive engagement with relevant stakeholders within JKA Botswana.
BSF on the other hand said it had ‘nothing to do’ with the petition. It further stated that had ‘neither met nor agreed as a federation to call for a BOKA SGM. “David M Kelebonye, who signed the letter on behalf of “Botswana Shitokai Federation”, is a member of BSF executive committee, but was not sanctioned to act on behalf of BSF,” the affiliate stated.
IRKBO, who withdrew from the petition this past Tuesday, 28th January 2025 said they were doing it ‘following careful evaluation of the association’s best interest and reconciliation viewpoints.’
While Bakwadi says there will be no SGM, the affiliates on the other hand believe it is on the cards, with or without the involvement of the BOKA executive. For them, the petition is still as valid as it was when it was signed and they are pressing on. The decision by the other two affiliates to withdraw is invalid.
“A precedent was set when the current committee came into office. Remember that a motion of no confidence was passed on the committee that preceded them. What people do not know is that after a petition for the SGM had been presented to the then BOKA executive, one affiliate tried to withdraw. However, the affiliates, who were led by some of the people in the current executive refused. They argued that once the petition had been signed and presented, it could not be withdrawn. So, a precedent has been set. None of the affiliates can withdraw,” a source close to the proceedings says.
In what should be a worrying warning, the source said if the current BOKA executive does not attend, he foresees a division within the association. “If things continue to go as they are, I foresee a breakaway karate association being formed. We may have two parallel associations after the 8th February SGM,” he warns.
Meanwhile, Bakwadi acknowledged that his executive received a letter on the 12th of January which informed them the SGM will proceed as scheduled. He however said with only two recognised affiliates having signed the letter, there is no chance for the SGM to proceed.
With both sides seemingly not willing to yield, it remains to be seen how things will turn out.
