Online Reporter
Danisa Masuku
Court Writer
FORMER Highlanders Football Club assistant coach, Agent Sawu, has engaged his lawyers, demanding US$6 000 in signing-on fees and a monthly salary for the whole of 2026, after the club allegedly un-procedurally terminated his contract, which was supposed to end on 31 December this year.
According to close sources within the Highlanders hierarchy, the veteran footballer is being represented by Victor Kucherera of Wallace Law Chambers.
The letter of demand gleaned by this reporter reads in part:
“We act on behalf of Agent Sawu, the assistant coach formerly employed by Highlanders Football Club.
“Our client has carefully considered the contents of your correspondence and places it on record that he disputes both the basis and legality of the purported termination.”
The source said that within the Highlanders hierarchy, Sawu was engaged on a fixed-term employment contract running until 31 December 2026.
“The contract, by its unambiguous terms, does not grant either party an unfettered right to unilaterally terminate the agreement before its expiry, save in circumstances expressly provided for therein.
“Clause 5(a) of the contract specifically provides that termination shall be by mutual consent of the parties,” reads the letter of demand.
“At no point did our client agree, expressly or impliedly, to the termination of his contract. In the absence of such mutual consent, the club’s decision to terminate constitutes a repudiation of the contract.
“Further, your reliance on alleged non-compliance with Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) is misplaced. Our client was never subjected to any formal performance review process, disciplinary inquiry, or hearing.
“He was not furnished with any written warnings, adverse performance reports, or remedial action plans, nor was he afforded an opportunity to make representations regarding the alleged failure to meet targets,” read the letter.
Sawu is demanding signing-on fees, salary for 2026 and winning bonuses.
“Agent joined us here at Highlanders in 2025 and was supposed to be paid US$3 000 in signing-on fees, and he was also supposed to be paid US$3 000 for 2026 because his contract was supposed to expire on 31 December this year.
Given that his contract was supposed to end at the end of the year, he was supposed to be paid a monthly salary, which I cannot disclose to you, and he is demanding it,” said the source.
Kucherera confirmed that he is representing Agent Sawu but declined to shed more light, dropping the call instead.
Contacted for comment, Sawu said: “Who gave that information? I have no comment at all. It’s an employee-employer relations issue. Perhaps your source can furnish you with all details.”
