Showdown: Highlanders set for explosive EGM

Lovemore Dube, Deputy Sports Editor
HIGHLANDERS’ members are today set to have an explosive extra-ordinary general meeting in which the club’s future and that of some executive members will top the bill.
All has not been well at the club with players taking to social media to appeal for funds and even offering their own mobile money accounts to be used.
The Bosso situation hit an all-time low for any executive in office when players went public asking sponsors and well-wishers to send money to captain Darlington Mukuli’s mobile money account.
It is unprecedented and members and fans have been furious on social media calling the Kenneth Mhlophe executive to step down.

Highlanders acting chief executive officer, Kindman Ndlovu yesterday declined to comment on what members had submitted to discuss for any other business and what could likely come from under fire chairman Kenneth Mhlophe’s report.
“The information will be divulged to members. Come to the meeting if you want to hear what the submissions were,” said Ndlovu when sought for a comment.
The meeting takes place at a time when the club has been caught in a number of strikes by the first team with players going for months without salaries and allowances.
It is believed that coach Benjani Mwaruwari could even be better than the seventh spot on the log they are on at the moment if not for almost half a dozen instances of industrial action over money matters.

Club finances are in tatters and at the annual general meeting in January, Bosso were close to US$450 000 in debt. The figure could even be approaching a million dollar mark by now with employees, coaches, players and other corporate organisations owed by Highlanders.
The Kenneth Mhlophe leadership stands accused of being out of depth and not committed to the badge but its own gains.
Highlanders wage bill leaves the club in arrears every month with sponsors contributing US$41 000 yet the bill is over US$70 000. There is no financial prudence and pro-active action to source more resources to match the wage bill.
Expected to also take centre stage the matter between the club and suspended chief executive officer Denzil Mnkandla.
Mnkandla has since been charged and brought before a disciplinary tribune headed by lawyer Vusi Vuma and has two other members Solomon Mguni and Ndabezinhle Mazibuko.
Questions have been thrown in the social media space as to how the tribune was constituted amid reports that they were imposed on the club by two executive members who were signatories to funds allegedly abused in the Botswana trip that has landed Mnkandla in hot soup.

Members have also asked if members of the panel are card carrying cadres of the club.
The chief executive officer, stands accused of insubordination and failing to do due diligence on the financial side of things of the pre-season tour that appeared not even to serve any technical purpose for the club coming just a week before the season kicked off.
Highlanders who had initially been quoted for 40 people ended up taking a bloated delegation of almost 60 with board and executive members being part of.
The club has been issued with a letter of demand for an outstanding sum of US$5 000 and two weeks ago, they were served with summons with club entering notice to defend as creditors moved in to attach movable property.
Members say if Mnkandla is going, executive members linked to the trip and agents could accompany him out of the club.
Mhlophe is walking on a tight rope this morning, it is how he responds to the floor that will save his skin as members’ feelings ahead of the meeting are that of a community baying for his blood and that of his executive and a board that has watched the rot take centre stage.
Highlanders is celebrating its 100 years of existence and nothing much has happened to add colour to what should be a 2026 of partying.
It can’t be any better than to have an executive that is delivering in the boardroom, fans that are coming in their thousands wherever the club plays and a top five finishing Highlanders that could even win the Chibuku Super Cup or the inaugural Munhumutapa Challenge Cup.
On the field of play Mwaruwari and his charges are by day giving supporters reason to believe with a good balanced team that is showing promise.
If only they had won four of the 13 drawn matches, Bosso would be up there with the chasing pack. The technical report is expected to get an applause as there is marked improvement from last year despite the financial challenges.
Two members allegedly sent matters to be discussed on any other business.
The issues are the indefinite terms of board members and clarification of the legitimacy of the Harare Chapter composition with accusations that it was planted ahead of the 2027 elections in which a wholly new executive will be voted in.
In the past elections were staggered to allow continuity but in February next year, a new executive will be voted in.