Online Reporter
Fungai Muderere [email protected]
A SOMBRE atmosphere engulfed Highlanders Football Club offices yesterday as government officials, football administrators, politicians and members of the Bosso family gathered to mourn the untimely deaths of club chairman and Premier Soccer League (PSL) vice-chairman Retired Colonel Kenneth Mhlophe, vice-chairman Sifiso Siziba, treasurer Nkani Khoza and club member Mbalenhle Sibanda.
The four lost their lives in a tragic road traffic accident along the Harare-Bulawayo Road on Thursday night, plunging one of Zimbabwe’s biggest football institutions into mourning.
Amid grief, the Ministry of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture together with the ruling party confirmed that they had formally initiated a request for the executive members to be accorded State-assisted funerals, describing their contribution to football as deserving of national recognition.
Present at the club offices were Minister of State for Bulawayo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Judith Ncube; Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Professor Mthuli Ncube; Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture Nicholas Moyo; Zifa vice-president Kennedy Ndebele, Zanu-PF Bulawayo provincial leadership and members of the Highlanders board led by chairman Luke Mnkandla.
Zanu-PF Central Committee member Cde Mabutho Moyo, a staunch Highlanders supporter, said the party believed the three administrators deserved State recognition.
“Highlanders is a national institution; its appeal touches everyone. In that regard, we ask that the Minister of Bulawayo Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Judith Ncube, send a formal request to the President of the country for these departed colleagues to get a state-assisted funeral. We have lost heroes and we would love to see them get such recognition. That is the position of the party and we will be updating on what would have been done,” said Cde Moyo.
Permanent Secretary Moyo confirmed that the ministry had already written to the Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Dr Martin Rushwaya, requesting State assistance.
“As the Ministry of Sports, Arts and Recreation, we are really saddened. We convey our deepest condolences. Zimbabwe has lost. This has really hit us hard; we might be worried, but all we need to do now is to get united.
“As a ministry, we have been reading about this issue since yesterday evening (Thursday) and, as such, we have written a letter to the Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Dr Martin Rushwaya. We are now looking forward to him getting in touch with the President; maybe we can get a state-assisted funeral,” said Moyo.
Minister Judith Ncube, who was visibly emotional throughout the visit, confirmed that she would immediately formalise the request before leaving for her office.
“I’m at a loss for words. As we were looking at the wreckage of the car, we asked ourselves what really transpired.
“I quickly remembered a day when we were sitting here (Highlanders offices), trying to put our heads together, trying to get a way forward. In the end, we found it together with those who have left us. A dark cloud has engulfed us here in Matabeleland, in Bulawayo and Zimbabwe as a whole. However, we should now accept the situation before us so that we bury them with honour. It has happened; we must stand together, silusizi ngomonakalo lo.”
Professor Mthuli Ncube, who repeatedly shook his head in disbelief, said the tragedy had left him deeply pained.
“I’m really pained with regards to the development that has taken place. Yesterday (Thursday), my wife was driving from Harare and phoned saying there was a serious accident; I told her to drive slowly. Little did we know it was the accident that robbed us of the Highlanders leadership. I’m sorry about this, sonke siyakhala sibili; Highlanders is an institution of Bulawayo, a national institution.
“We were looking forward to two events regarding fundraising so that we could help in the whole 100 years celebration. Now this has befallen us.”
Speaking on behalf of Highlanders, board chairman Luke Mnkandla said the club remained united with the bereaved families during one of the darkest chapters in its history.
“We are in deep mourning for the tragic loss of lives. We pass our sincere condolences and sympathise with the Mhlophe, Siziba and Khoza families. We are with you during this difficult time. May God help us during this difficult time until the end and comfort you as well,” said Mnkandla.
The football fraternity continues to mourn the three administrators, whose deaths have cast a dark shadow over Highlanders’ centenary year and prompted an outpouring of grief from across Zimbabwe and beyond.
– @FungaiMuderere.
It was indeed a very serious tragedy but let us not forget that so many people perish on our roads and elsewhere and these are as important human beings as anyone else. Sympathy is a human attribute and must be delivered proportionally particularly by national leaders. They should be seen to be everybody’s leaders such that they should also visit, be seen and heard pouring out the same sympathy to the family of poor Mrs Nqwababa in rural Kezi when such tragedy happens to her. This practice of featuring on “important” people’s tragedies only doesn’t augur well with sound leadership. May their souls rest in eternal peace.