Online Reporter
Lovemore Dube
Zimpapers Sports Hub
NINETEEN years without a league title has turned frustration into fury for Highlanders fans, and now they’re done waiting quietly.
At Barbourfields on Sunday, a group of fed-up supporters made their message loud and clear. Their banner didn’t mince words: “We Demand Change, New Executive, New Board Members, No To Misuse of Bosso Funds.” The final line, in raw isiNdebele, “Sikhathele Ngani Masela, Asifuni Bumbulu,” struck deeper than any defeat. They’re tired of the silence, the stalling, and what they see as a club drifting further from its roots.
What was once whispered in WhatsApp groups and shebeens is now shouted from the terraces, Bosso’s biggest battles are off the pitch.
The club’s leadership is under growing scrutiny. Suspended finance officer Sihlalisiwe Mnkandla still hasn’t faced a hearing nearly two years after being accused of fraud. Former CEO Brian Moyo was pushed out under a cloud of controversy over a US$23 000 player deal where Bulawayo Chiefs only received US$18,000. And now, leaked internal documents suggest more breaches of trust behind closed doors.
Yet despite mounting pressure, the board insists it’s doing its best. “I saw the placards,” said board chairman Luke Mnkandla. “The bona fide members will decide.” But in the eyes of many fans, the time for patient optimism is over.
On the field, Highlanders sit 8th in the Premier League, decent on paper, but nowhere near championship form. Supporters aren’t just asking for wins. They want leadership with a clear plan, honest books and, most of all, accountability.
Acting CEO Kindman Ndlovu confirmed the club is working to sign new players before the July 31 window closes. Names are being kept under wraps, though fans are hoping for proven talents like Obriel Chirinda or a possible return for Nqobizitha Masuku. Bosso now has a reported US$50 000 transfer budget, thanks to backing from businessman Wicknell Chivayo, enough to spark some optimism.
Still, there’s a growing sense that no amount of spending will fix deeper cracks.
Highlanders have struggled to attract top talent consistently, mostly due to years of poor finances and boardroom instability. Players alone won’t save a system that seems broken from the inside.
With clubs like Simba Bhora and MWOS pushing for the title, Highlanders risk falling even further behind unless they find answers, not just new strikers.
Right now, the fans aren’t asking for miracles. They want something far simpler: honesty, urgency, and a plan that doesn’t get lost in executive meetings. Until that happens, no signing will be enough.
