Chris Theko
Schools, clubs and individual members have slammed the sitting of the Lesotho Basketball Association Executive Committee with a vote of no confidence.
The bodies have demanded for the dissolution of the committee.
This current instability follows the resignation of some members of the Exco earlier this year.
RetÅ¡elisitose Lephaila – Secretary General, Faku Masupha from the position of Director of Development, Ntoko Marake – Public Relations Officer, Bokang Pharela – Director of Referees and Table Officials and Relebohile Lebatla – Director of Women in Sport make up the list of members that resigned.
After the resignation of the above listed, the committee was left with only the President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary General.
In a letter written to the Lesotho Sports and Recreation Commission (LSRC) and Lesotho National Olympic Committee (LNOC), the said concerned parties (clubs, schools and individual members) called for LSRC and LNOC mediation on the issue, and suggested the dissolution of the current LBA executive committee.
According to the letter seen by Newsday Sports, the motion of no confidence is based on the said inability of the LBA to constitute a proper Exco committee structure which only has four members left in office.
The call is therefore made for the dissolution of the committee and a call for fresh elections citing that the remaining people cannot form the quorum.
According to the concerned parties’ representative, Faku Masupha a quorum is made up of six members upwards.
Meanwhile, the current LBA President, Francis Koma confirmed that he does not prefer elections to fill the vacant positions, but that he would rather go for an option of co-opting new members.
Recently, Koma co-opted ‘Mamokoena Nhlapho for the position of Secretary General.
In March the President co-opted two other candidates; Thabo Matooane and Ts’eliso Kheleli as Public Relations Officer and Director of Referees and Table Officials respectively.
“Because I am trying to solve any issues as fair as possible as the President, I went for co-opting after the members resigned,†said Koma.
He confirmed to have received the petition but currently awaiting LNOC and LSRC to suggest a way forward.
Koma added that he is yet to verify the signatures on the petition.
Masupha on the other hand highlighted that all co-opted members are not legitimate until they are approved by the Annual General Meeting.
The LBA President challenged that the AGM might take a while to happen as they are currently being put on hold by the LSRC in terms of hosting anything due to lack of funds.
However, it appears some co-opted members have also already resigned.
Kheleli is one of the recently resigned co-opted member, even though Koma said the resignation currently stands as a “rumour because there is no documentation to its effectâ€.
Matooane also revealed that he is no longer interested in being part of the committee even though he hasn’t made an official resignation yet.
LSRC Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mofihli Makoele confirmed receipt of the dissolution request.
LNOC through its Head-Programmes Services, Pulumo Nchakha also confirmed receiving the letter.
He revealed that the organisation’s legal department was yet to thoroughly study the letter in order to follow right procedures in approaching the matter.