The Sunday News
Allan Foti, Sports Correspondent
HIGHLANDERS’ fans in Mutare have urged combatants in what is turning into an ugly election to respect the sanctity and good name of the club as they head towards election Sunday.
Two candidates have emerged as front runners for the chairmanship while three are expected to face off for the secretary-general’s post.
Retired army officer and businessman, Kenneth Mhlophe and former player, team manager and chairman, Earnest “Maphepha” Sibanda for the chairmanship, face each other for the vacant chairmanship, but this race which has seemingly turned nasty with an overzealous section making damaging claims against one of the candidates.
Speaking from Eastern Highlands, the fans called upon the candidates to show restraint in their campaigns and cease efforts to discredit each other using underhanded measures. The fans said all aspiring candidates must uphold the spirit of ubuntu that has been the bastion of the club’s development and success since its formation in 1926. They said it was disheartening for them to see candidates mud-slinging when they should be putting themselves in a position to offer themselves to winning candidates and work for the growth of the club.
“Its sad to hear talk that certain candidates are beginning to sling mud at each other. Highlanders is an institution premised on family and ubuntu and so such behaviour is very anti-Highlanders and should cease forthwith,” said Mxolisi Dlamini, a Highlanders supporter and University student in Mutare.
Another fan who showed this reporter his valid membership card, but refused to be named because he is a voter echoed Dlamini’s sentiments and appealed to the candidates to remember that they will all be members of the club after the elections have come and gone. He said it is imperative that candidates understand the need for members to vote for them for their qualities not for the allegations against rival candidates.
“I want to vote for someone because he has what I think is important for Highlanders’ growth. I won’t vote for him because he says that guy is bad so vote for me. That’s childish and anti-Highlanders. Ours is a family oriented football club and this must be made evident in this campaign otherwise it means these people don’t have the club at heart and are coming in for selfish reasons,” said the member. @AllanFoti
