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Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
THE Highlanders FC electoral court sits this morning to look at papers filed by those running for office in the club’s elections set for February 1.Returning officer Luke Mnkandla said all the candidates would be treated equally in line with the club’s constitution.
Six Highlanders board members, Ndumiso Sibanda, Elkanah Dube, Dumisani Sandi, Jimmy Ncube, Justice Nicholas Mathonsi and Mnkandla form the electoral court.
“There’s been a lot of talk about one of the candidates but to us, they’re all equal and will all be subjected to the same vetting process, nothing less, nothing more,” said Mnkandla, a legendary radio personality.
This was in apparent reference to former chairman Ernest Maphepha Sibanda’s candidature following unconfirmed reports that some board members wanted him disqualified from the race over his handling of the Obidiah Tarumbwa transfer deal to a Belgian club when he was chairman.
He has since denied that he misappropriated about $25,000 of club funds.
Sibanda is challenging incumbent chairman Peter Dube who also submitted his nomination papers for re-election.
A total of 12 candidates will contest for the three positions, barring any disqualifications today, in the February 1 elections.
Posts up for grabs are that of chairman, secretary general and committee member.
For the secretary-general’s post, businessmen Donald Ndebele, Pilate Mahlangu, Innocent Batisani Ncube, National Association of Primary School Heads Bulawayo boss Njabulo Bango and former medic and team manager Emmet Ndlovu submitted their papers.
Five candidates, Faith Silandulo Dube, former committee member Wisdom Mabhena, club marshal Cleopas Ngano, former Dynamos and Highlanders player Colsen Mabeza and incumbent Charles Moyo will battle for the committee member’s post.
“At the moment no one has been cleared to contest, we’ll look at the authenticity of those who would’ve recommended the candidate to enter the race as well as the standing of the candidate himself. Our constitution is very clear on the attributes of an aspiring candidate and we being the custodians of that document, we would want to make sure it’s followed,” said Mnkandla.
He reiterated that no candidate was confirmed on Saturday and said the issue of Maphepha was a non-event as his candidature was just like everyone’s.
“To us there’s nothing special and all I can confirm is that he did submit his nomination papers and we’ll look at those papers in a normal way,” said Mnkandla.
The Highlanders elections will be preceded by the club’s annual general meeting where members will debate the chairman’s report with the treasurer’s report likely to attract a lot of attention.
It will be presented by the outgoing treasurer Jerry Sibanda. The former striker has since been appointed chairman of Bulawayo City Football Club, newly promoted to the Zifa Southern Region Division One League.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter