Former Highlanders CEO’s trial continues… His accomplice testifies against him

Danisa Masuku

THE trial of former Highlanders Football Club chief executive officer, Brian Busani Moyo, who is facing allegations of defrauding the Bulawayo football giants of US$2 000 in a botched player transfer deal, continued yesterday.

Moyo, who resigned from his post earlier this year amid swirling allegations of financial impropriety, appeared before Bulawayo provincial magistrate Mr Richard Ramaboea. He pleaded not guilty to the fraud charge and was represented by his lawyers from Wallace Law Chambers.

According to court documents, the case stems from a December 2024 transfer negotiation involving two players — striker Never Rauzhi and midfielder Malvern Hativagoni — who had been identified by Highlanders’ technical team as potential key signings ahead of the 2025 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League season.

Moyo’s lawyers, said that after initial talks, Rauzhi was valued at US$25 000 while Hativagoni was to be released on loan for US$15 000. Moyo, accompanied by the club’s vice-chairman, Mr Sifiso Siziba, went to Bulawayo Chiefs’ offices to negotiate for the purchase of the two players.

The defence counsel stated that a few weeks later, a deal was struck for Rauzhi at US$13 000 and Hativagoni at US$10 000 — a combined US$23 000. However, former Bulawayo Chiefs administrator, Andrew Mandigora, who has since turned State witness, told the court that he and Moyo misrepresented the sale price to Highlanders executives, claiming the players had been acquired for US$23 000 but informing Chiefs they had been sold for US$18 000.

Mandigora alleged that they pocketed the US$5 000 difference, with him taking US$3 000 and Moyo allegedly pocketing US$2 000. He has already been convicted and fined US$400, with part of his sentence suspended for three years on condition of good behaviour.

To cover their tracks, Mandigora said they manipulated the receipt book by writing US$23 000 on the original receipt issued to Highlanders but US$18 000 on the duplicate copy kept for Bulawayo Chiefs’ records.

Under cross-examination, Moyo’s defence team argued that Mandigora was the sole beneficiary of the fraud and that the State’s case rested on “fabricated and malicious” allegations. They further claimed there was only one receipt, for US$23 000, and no official record for US$18 000.

Mandigora, however, insisted that Moyo was a willing accomplice, even offering to produce WhatsApp messages and audio recordings in which Moyo allegedly urged him to help conceal the fraud after Highlanders’ executives became suspicious.

“I told him we had better return the money, and I returned the US$3 000 I had taken. I have the WhatsApp messages and audio recordings of those conversations,” he said.

The trial continues on August 21 and Highlanders board chairman Luke Mkandla is expected to testify. Moyo was remanded out of custody. Brenda Nyoni represented the State.