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Candidates vying for the vice-chairman’s post are incumbent Sikhanyiso Moyo, Leroy Maplanka, Joel Mahlangu, Nkosinathi Ncube, former committee member Wisdom Mabhena, Harare-based Mgcini Mpofu and club marshal Frank Moyo.
By mid-day tomorrow, two of the nine gentlemen will join the trio of chairman Peter Dube, Andrew Tapela the secretary-general and committee member Charles “Six One” Moyo in the executive.
Expectations from the Highlanders meeting are high that soon after the elections the executive will have an urgent meeting where they are likely to address the issue of vacancies in the technical team.
Dube told members at last weekend’s annual general meeting that they wanted all executive members to have a say when hiring coaches. He said they were concerned with the high staff turnover at the club which at times costs Highlanders money through litigation.
Zambian expatriate Kelvin Kaindu, the only member of the coaching department with a contract has been working alone since the start of the pre-season training three weeks ago.
Kaindu is feeling the heat and after the 2-0 defeat against Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa on Wednesday, he told journalists that he did not have proper words to describe the pressure he was going through.
Assistant coach Bekithemba “Super” Ndlovu, goalkeepers’ coach Tembo Chuma and team manager Amin Soma-Phiri’s contracts expired on 31 December last year.
Also on one year contracts were juniors coaches Daniel “Dany” Ngwenya, Gift Lunga Jnr, Siphatho Ncube, Mark Mathe and juniors’ manager Smart Moyo.
Already, there are rumours doing rounds that a certain member within the executive wants to recommend that committee member Charles Nondo takes over as senior team manager and that will mean the executive will have to co-opt another member.
According to sources, the move is likely to strain relations within the executive as it is believed that once Charles is out of the executive, when it comes to voting matters, the same executive member who is lobbying for Charles’ transfer to the technical team will form an alliance with the newcomers and gang up against the other executive member.
Allegations against the same member of the executive who is said to be wielding influence in most quarters are that he has publicly been de-campaigning other candidates.
The source warned that if executive members are not careful, the new executive members who will be voted into office may divide the club.
“Right now some of them are campaigning saying they will work with everyone yet they just want to get a stronghold in the club. Truth of the matter is that some members are still bitter about what happened in the last elections and they don’t want the club to succeed.
“Factionalism is there in the club and people must be aware and vote well on Sunday. There was a time when the club had a chairman based outside Bulawayo named Vic Naik, and he did not last,” said a concerned member.
In an interview yesterday, Highlanders’ board member and elections returning officer Luke Mnkandla confirmed that they have heard rumours about a member of the executive campaigning on behalf of some candidates.
Mnkandla said that was not ethical and was tantamount to corruption.
“We know some people in the executive are said to be campaigning for others and that is wrong. If that member is caught he will be dealt with accordingly. Actually he risks being fired from the executive.
“If it is actually true that the member is campaigning, then that is unfortunate because that is very unethical and tantamount to corruption. Surely members must be the ones who chose people and if you are in office and influence who you want to work with, that becomes a worrying factor,” Mnkandla said.
Only members with membership cards and identity documents will be allowed to cast their votes.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter