adminBruce Chikuni
A local cricket ground manager, Abel Mhluma, will live to curse the day he worked for Mash Eagles Cricket Club.
The 60-year-old was injured in the left eye on duty in 2010 and the club allegedly looked aside when Mhluma sought assistance.
His situation deteriorated and the eye was eventually removed last year as he struggled to copy with the pain.
He thought removal of the troubling eye would be the end of his misery, but his situation got worse, as there is now a growth in his socket. Somehow, Mhluma, is still seeking justice despite losing a court case a few years ago. He lost the case because the court ruled that Mash Eagles had been dissolved.
But Mhluma is now directing his frustration at Zimbabwe Cricket arguing that they were his paymasters.
“Mash Eagles was an affiliate of Zimbabwe Cricket and I was reporting for duty to them and even my payslip makes it clear that I was their employee, although my task was to work for Mash Eagles.
“It still pains me up to this day that I’m not getting any medical support from Zimbabwe Cricket.
“I’m partially blind and under normal circumstances, no company will consider hiring me.
“I got injured in 2010 and up to the time they changed their name to Mash Eagles in 2016, they were not interested in assisting me until my situation become worse. I believe I would not have lost my eye if Zimbabwe Cricket was compassionate,” he said.
“What surprises me is that they are claiming Mash Eagles collapsed, but the project is still being controlled by the same leadership from the same offices.
“Beside the name, nothing has really changed. I feel like I wasted my time because in those eight years, I could have done something better with my life.”
He, however, hailed well-wishers in domestic cricket circles, Alexander Sports Club, who have been assisting him with money for medication.
A former workmate of his at Mash Eagles, Ronald Dube, confirmed Mhluma’s agony. Dube is secretary of the Mash Eagles workers, who are fighting for justice.
He said they were negotiating with ZC and have agreed on an out of court settlement which will see Mhluma being compensated at the end of this month, should things go according to plan.
“We have been in touch with Zimbabwe Cricket about this issue and there are so many things which have delayed this process.
“We were affected by Covid-19 and also the transition of power when Mash Eagles was dissolved.
“But the good thing is Zimbabwe Cricket is communicating with us and we are hopeful that our negotiations will yield the expected results,” said Dube.
Online Reporter