The Sunday News
Allan Foti, Sports Correspondent
HIGHLANDERS have announced dates for the Annual General Meeting as well as the elections for the posts of chairman, secretary and committee member.
In an advert flighted by the club’s secretary yesterday, Highlanders set 28 January as the date for the AGM and 4 February as the day for the elective meeting. Both key gatherings will be held at the Clubhouse.
The AGM and the elective meeting come at a time when the world of football was shaken to the core after Zimbabwe Football Association chief executive, Joseph Mamutse wrote to Highlanders instructing them not to hold elections thereby attempting to subvert the club’s constitution. Reason eventually prevailed at the national association after Government came out and advised Zifa to respect Highlanders’ statutes and an outcry from all corners of the football family.
In a major climb down, Zifa president Phillip Chiyangwa eventually issued a statement on Friday reversing the decision and announcing that the elections could go on.
According to the notice, the agenda of the AGM has seven main items that will be discussed by the members. Of major interest to the members is likely to be the chairman’s report, treasurer’s report and the board’s report.
Highlanders’ AGM comes hard on the heels of another poor season that failed to yield a title or a respectable position on the log standings. Bosso finished barely finished sixth last season and members and supporters alike are not impressed with the club’s outing.
Meanwhile, nominations for the club’s elections are now open and the deadline for submission of nomination papers set for 20 January. All aspiring candidates will be expected to pay a refundable fee of $100 should a candidate poll more than 10 percent of the total votes cast.
A few candidates have declared their interest in the various posts available with retired army officer and businessman, Kenneth Mhlophe vying for the chairman’s post. He could face former chairman, Ernest “Maphepha” Sibanda who left the club under a cloud of alleged embezzlement charges in his last stint as chairman.
Sibanda declared his intention to run on Friday, but will have to convince the club’s members and board of his suitability given the charges. The board has previously backed the club’s electoral court’s decision to bar him from contesting and it remains to be seen if they will acquiesce this time around.
In 2015, the electoral court refused to accept Sibanda’s nomination and they were backed by the board. The decision was later ratified by the club’s members during an AGM.
Former police officer and MDC-T administrator for Bulawayo Province Nkululeko Ndlovu and club legend Lawrence “Lofty” Phiri have made public their intention to run for the secretary-general’s post while incumbent committee member Wisdom Mabhena is interested in staying in office where his challenge could come from Peacot Hadebe. — @AllanFoti
