Online Reporter
Lovemore Dube, [email protected]
SUSPENDED Highlanders chief executive officer Denzil Mnkandla’s case will be heard on September 16 following a postponement of the case due to some technicalities on 16 August.
Mnkandla is in trouble following the release and use of US$68 000 for a trip to Botswana in the off-season by Highlanders. There are fears that the club could have been fleeced in the trip.
Mnkandla is facing four serious charges.
Count 1 (Gross incompetency or inefficiency)
Contravening Section 4(f) of the National Code of Conduct (S.1 15 of 2006) in that the respondent showed gross incompetency and inefficiency by entering into an agreement with a third party in respect of accommodation and camping expenses for a trip to Botswana for the period 24 February 2026 to 3 March 2026 without conducting proper due diligence regarding the costs thereof resulting in respondent authorising the club overpaying excessively in the amount of US$42 200.00 to the third party when the service was only charged in the total amount of Botswana Pula 170 622.00 by the service provider, namely Travel Lodge.
Count 2 (Conduct inconsistent with contract terms)
Contravening section 4 (f) of the National Code of Conduct (S.1 15 of 2006) in that the respondent entered into a contract with a 3rd party on behalf of Highlanders Football Club for the camping expenses of the Club’s sporting delegation in Botswana for the period 24 February 2026 to 3 March 2026 without the prior consent of the Executive Committee in contravention of clause 26 (h) of his contract of employment.
Count 3 (Wilful disobedience)
Contravening section 4 (f) of the National Code of Conduct (S.1 15 of 2006) in that the respondent wilfully disregarded an instruction form the club to provide receipt and invoices in support of payments made by the club as well as the Agreement with Gilport Enterprises (Pvt) Ltd.]
Count 4 (Absence from work without leave)
Contravening section 4 (f) of the National Code of Conduct (S.I 15 OF 2006) in that you absented yourself from work for a period of 5 days or more without lawful excuse or authority from the 29th of June 2026.
On the last charge, Mnkandla had written to the club saying he was incapacitated to report to duty after his salary was blocked in March.
Mnkandla appears to have fallen foul of the club in the aftermath of the club’s pre-season trip to Botswana in which the club is alleged to have suffered financial prejudice.
This came by after the club discovered disparities in the figures provided by agents engaged by the club and what the lodge offered at the front office on enquiry.
Some agents are alleged to have been imposed on the club secretariat to work with and collected the money in cash. Players, technical team and members of the executive and board were paid allowances of up to US$700 each for the trip.
The case was initially set to be heard on August 21 but due to the alleged unavailability of the disciplinary tribune chairman Vusi Vuma due to a bereavement, it could not take place.
They then settled for September 16 as another member of the panel Solomon Mguni could not be available due to other commitments until that date.
Vuma confirmed that the hearing will continue on September 16 when contacted on Tuesday.
Tofara Hwara of Tashaya Law Chambers confirmed the date too.
Zimpapers Sports Hub has it on good authority that the two parties met last week and some technical matters arose requiring both parties to go back to the drawing board.
The prosecution is alleged to have brought what they termed new evidence that had previously not been made available.
Mnkandla’s camp then sought a postponement so that they could go through the case before responding to the allegations.
Another hitch that appears to be tearing the club’s case is that there are no minutes of a resolution permitting the executive to have the three-member team of chairman Vuma, Mguni and prosecutor Ndabezinhle Mazibuko.
To add to the case’s intrigue, the Highlanders constitution states that a lawyer approved at an annual general meeting by members, ought to be involved in disciplinary matters involving members and employees.
In the latest club minutes, Nqobani Sithole is the club’s lawyer and questions are being raised as to how and who decided to violate the club’s constitution when excluding him.
“There was a lot of procedural fraud on the matter that may leave the club with a rotten egg on the face,” said a source close to the prosecution who refused to be named.
Vuma and Hwara could not be drawn into delving much on the matter both insisting that they will meet on September 16.
