How Highlanders acquired properties

IN the mid-1980s, Highlanders did the unthinkable when it bought properties in Bulawayo.
It set itself apart from the rest of the community clubs and even better than some company sponsored clubs when it acquired the Robert Mugabe Way offices, Fife Street Clubhouse and a residential property in Luveve 4 commonly known as Hotel California.

This was during the Ndumiso Gumede chairmanship in which Lawrence Phiri who had left Bulawayo City Council had joined John Pockok as a property negotiator.

Phiri got wind of that a property along Robert Mugabe Way was up for sale. He advised the executive then made up of Gumede, Vana Hlabangana, Shadreck Sibanda, Enock Mangena and Mike Gumpo.

“They said there was no money. The property was going for $12 000. We had moved our offices from Makokoba to Lobengula Street and Sixth Avenue.

“The city centre building, which could be used as a commercial property appeared ideal for offices. I took my own $1 200 and paid as a deposit and then went to a building society to apply for a loan and we were turned down. The bank insisted that we pay a quarter of $10 800, the executive members went into their pockets and we got the loan and I reclaimed my $1 200.

“Later, we heard Queens Sports Club was having problems. We booked a Friday afternoon and went to meet the management. They could not tolerate us taking over their beautiful sports club. But then they said we go have a look at Queensmead, which was not being used. It is the present day Highlanders Clubhouse.

“The lawns were lush green, we pictured having bowls, rugby, basketball and football on the fields. When we asked for the asking price, they asked us to make an offer. You know Gumede, in his customary joking manner, suggested a very low figure, they took it and we became the owners of the clubhouse,” said Phiri.

Queensmead housed bowling and football facilities.
Highlanders also bought a house in Luveve 4, a medium density suburb with the intention of making it a camping house for the first team. Over the years it has housed out of Bulawayo players without accommodation.

At the time of acquiring the Clubhouse Phiri said there was an agreement that the bar will belong to the football club with the rest of the facility open to disciplines that were coming up under the Highlanders Sports Association.

Athletics, boxing, basketball, hockey, rugby, darts, women’s soccer, netball, chess, table tennis and volleyball are some of the disciplines that came under the sports association banner.

Basketball, darts, rugby and volleyball had some of their players capped with Victor Olonga, Arthur Mathe, Fortune Sithole-Ndlovu, Edson Sibanda, Vulindlela Moyo, Vimbai Muhomba, Unita Dube, Angela Chikomba, Franscisca Gumbo, Chipo Soko and Soneni Mambo among the best stars.