The Sunday News
Vusumuzi Dube, Senior Reporter
A STORM is brewing within the Bulawayo City Council chambers over a proposed move to offer Bulawayo Premiership football clubs free use of local stadia for their opening five matches when football eventually gets underway in the country.
Councillors last month passed a resolution to this effect after a request from Highlanders Football Club that had written to the city’s Mayor, Solomon Mguni requesting assistance in coming up with funds and resources amid the crisis brought about by the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
Highlanders lost their main sponsor NetOne who chose to refocus their corporate social responsibility towards the country’s fight against Covid-19.
Bosso chief executive officer Nhlanhla Dube, in his communique expressed fears that the problems brought about by the loss of a sponsor might result in the collapse of the club with players and workers dumping Amahlolanyama.
Councillors in the full council meeting of 5 August then went on to pass a resolution granting Bosso and all the other Bulawayo clubs in the premiership free use of the council owned stadia for the first five home matches. Bulawayo has four teams that play in the premier league,
Highlanders, Chicken Inn, Bulawayo Chiefs and the BCC-owned Bulawayo City.
However, in a letter seen by this publication, sent to one of the benefitting clubs, the local authority’s housing and community services department said council will only be offering free use of the stadia for just one home match.
“Please be advised that council is offering your team and other Premier Soccer League teams in Bulawayo free use of match venues for the first round of home matches,” reads part of the letter that is signed and stamped by the assistant director in the housing and community service department, a T Khumalo.
This will, however, be against the council resolution which the Urban Council Act states that for a resolution to be altered it would require a council committee to rescind it.
Commenting on the matter, the city’s Town Clerk, Christopher Dube said it is illegal for a council resolution to be altered, without councillors agreeing on the matter.
“I have not seen that letter but if there was a change in what the councillors resolved, it is wrong and it needs to be corrected because we cannot change a resolution, no one has the power to change a resolution, if we are unhappy with resolutions, as managers we go back to council to rectify the resolution before it is implemented,” said Dube.
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