There was shock and angst this past Friday, July 19, 2024, as the Botswana Football Association Elections Committee (BFA EC) released the names of the candidates for the association’s National Executive Committee (NEC) positions.
In what was a shock to the football system, the BFA EC vetted out almost all candidates running for top positions against a team led by incumbent BFA president MaClean Letshwiti. If the status quo remains, the president and his team will have a free run to the BFA NEC.
With former president Tebogo Sebego already having quit the race, Letshwiti was expected to be in a triple threat match against his current vice president Masego Nchingane and longtime Sebego ally Tariq Babitseng.
Elsewhere, Maokaneng Bontshetse was expected to slug it out with former national team player Phadza Butale for the first vice president post. Youthful administrator Tebogo Kamati was to battle it out with current BFA NEC member and known Sebego ally Carlos Sebina.
However, when the list of candidates was revealed on Friday, Letshwiti, Bontshetse and Kamati were the last men standing. Their opponents had been vetted out. They were joined by Normal Sebele, Goemeone Letebele, Bathusi Rathari, Vincent Mafuta, Rabbie Tshosa, and Moreotsile Juta as approved candidates for ordinary member positions. Suzie Montsho and Thabang Shadikong were also approved to battle it out for the additional female member position.
In their statement announcing the candidates, the BFA elections committee said the vetting process was undertaken through a ‘vigorous assessment process.’ The list, which appeared in the afternoon was confirmed by elections committee chairman Moemedi Letina.
When asked to clarify reasons why some people were vetted out, the BFA elections committee chairman said that he was not at liberty to disclose the reasons. He said the matter is still under adjudication and he would not want to prejudice those who have been vetted out as they had a right to appeal the results of the process.
The chairman said vetted out candidates who wished to lodge appeals should do so within a span of four working days, starting the day of the release of candidate names.
While Letina was not at liberty to discuss the reasons, those opposing the current regime believe the vetting out of members opposing the Letshwiti led team is already giving credence to their long-held belief that the current BFA elections committee could not be trusted to hold credible elections.
Weeks ago when he announced his decision not to contest elections, Sebego made it clear he had no faith in the BFA EC. He pointed out at the time that the BFA’s “new regulations are meant to disenfranchise the general membership of the BFA.”
When asked to respond to Sebego’s comments at the time, Letina, as the BFA elections committee chairman, said they ‘could indeed be trusted.’ He went on to add that he was however aware that not everyone could be happy with the processes.
As expected, when the list was announced, Sebego was the first to come out with his gun blazing. “I spoke about the credibility of the 2024 BFA Elections. You never have unethical characters at the helm of a democratic organization like football,” he said.
While Sebego, who was considered Letshwiti’s main threat had bowed out, those against the current regime were optimistic of winning the elections. According to one commentator, ‘Babitseng looked on course to oust Letshwiti.’
“He (Babitseng) has done all the ground work in the regions. Most of them were behind him. Even in the absence of Sebego, he was a great threat,” the source disclosed.
Another tough battle was expected between Bontshetse and Butale. With his acumen as the government chief negotiator, Butale, who is a lawyer by profession, was viewed as a man to edge out the battle for the first vice president position. With only four working days left, it now remains to be seen what next steps the vetted candidates out will take.
