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Sikhumbuzo Moyo in BULAWAYO
TWO former Highlanders players — Ernest Maphepha Sibanda and Collsen Mabeza — were yesterday disqualified from contesting in the forthcoming club elections set for February 1.
Maphepha’s disqualification means that incumbent Peter Dube will be duly elected for another term at the helm of the country’s oldest football club.
Former Bosso medic, Emmet Ndlovu, survived by a whisker.
The electoral committee described Maphepha’s disqualification as sad.
Mabeza, who also once played for Dynamos, failed to meet Article 9.1 of the club’s Constitution while the charismatic Maphepha was taken off the race in terms of Article 10.7 of the Highlanders Constitution.
Ndlovu almost suffered the fate of having one of his backers also backing another candidate in the same race.
“They have disqualified me from the race, that’s all I can say to you thank you,” said Maphepha as he emerged from a meeting with the three-man electoral court which was made up of returning officer legendary radio personality Luke Mnkandla, board secretary Jimmy Ncube and board member Elkanah Dube.
Returning Officer Mnkandla said reasons for Maphepha’s disqualification will be given to the Highlanders members during the club’s annual general meeting set for this coming Sunday.
“We invoked Article 10.7 of our Constitution which empowers us to exercise that right, we can either confirm or disqualify a candidate,” Mnkandla said.
Article 10.7 of the Highlanders Constitution reads;
“The nomination Court is empowered to receive nominations of candidates, to vet them, approve or disqualify any candidate and in so doing it shall be guided by the provisions of Article 9 of the Constitution.
“Article 9, Qualifications for the executive committee positions reads; 9.1, A prospective candidate for any position in the executive committee must be a current fully paid-up member of the club who has been so for an uninterrupted period of, at least two years, immediately preceding his nomination.
“Article 9.2 says such prospective candidate for any position in the executive committee must not be an unrehabilitated insolvent and must not have been convicted in the 10 years immediately preceding his nomination of any crime involving dishonesty for which he has been sentenced to a term of imprisonment, without the option of a fine, or to a fine exceeding US$50,000 or to both such fine and such imprisonment.
“In essence we found Sibanda not in good standing and it’s really sad, quite sad indeed,” said Mnkandla who had come out of the vetting process to grant the media a brief interview following the disqualification of Maphepha.
The vetting exercise started just after 10am with outgoing committee member Charles Moyo the first to go in for vetting and was followed by Pilate Mahlangu, seeking to be the club secretary-general.
Vulindlela Moyo, representing the outgoing chairman Peter Dube, was third.
Gift Ncube, who was representing Njabulo Bango, went in after Moyo and was soon followed by Bheka Sibanda, who is Emmet Ndlovu’s agent.
Both Ndlovu and Bango are eyeing the secretary general’s post.
The vetting exercise went on throughout the day until Mnkandla emerged again at 16:45hrs to announce the final outcome of the process.
“We are finally done here and we hope people will accept the outcome. All the candidates have been endorsed save for two Sibanda and Mabeza.
“We explained Sibanda’s issue in the morning and for Mabeza, he joined and never subscribed again until now when he wanted to run for office which is in violation of Article 9.1,” said Mnkandla.
The disqualification of the duo now leaves the election race with nine candidates as Dube is now unopposed and is the chairman-elect.
The electoral committee resolved yesterday to consult further on the issue of the US$100 election fee as the Constitution is silent on disqualified candidates.
Highlanders executive committee elections full list of candidates
Executive-Secretary
Njabulo Bango, Pilate Mahlangu, Innocent Batsani Ncube, Donald Ndebele and Emmet Ndlovu
Committee member
Faith Silandulo Dube, Wisdom Mabhena, Charles Moyo and Cleopas Ngano.
Online Reporter