Highlanders call for Extraordinary General Meeting amid financial, governance crises

Highlanders Football Club will hold an Extraordinary General Meeting [EGM] this Sunday , as members seek to address pressing financial and governance issues that have plagued the Bulawayo giants in the first half of the season.

The EGM comes at a time when Bosso have been rocked by severe financial constraints and governance disputes.

These issues culminated in the suspension of Chief Executive Officer Denzil Mkandla, just three months after his appointment, as well as player strikes over unpaid allowances.

According to the notice issued by the Executive Committee, the agenda includes the Executive Chairman’s Report, Technical and Development Report, Marketing Report, Financial Report, and Board Chairman’s Report.

However members have questioned the timing of the EGM.

One member who spoke to Fanzone on condition of anonymity, expressed concern over the agenda and timing of the EGM.

“The EGM is a good platform to help us correct certain things before they get worse. However, I am surprised to see an AGM-style agenda in an Extraordinary General Meeting,” the member said.

“An EGM is meant to address urgent and critical issues. Why are people giving technical, development, and marketing reports? We haven’t even appointed sub-committees to work in those departments, so what work have they done?

“What I am seeing here is people are trying to buy time with useless agenda items,” he added.

Another member, Sijabuliso Nyoni, also questioned the timing of the meeting.

“The timing of the EGM is not proper. Why wasn’t it scheduled when the team was away, or for next Sunday? Why did they have to put it on a day when we are playing a home match a big game that requires supporters to be at the stadium early?

Is it an oversight, or was it done deliberately?” Nyoni questioned.

Highlanders are scheduled to face defending champions Scottland at Barbourfields Stadium a few hours after the EGM would have concluded.

Members are expected to deliberate on club business from 9am to 1pm before heading to the match.

The outcome of Sunday’s meeting is expected to determine the direction of the club as it navigates both on-field and off-field challenges.

Head coach Benjani Mwaruwari’s tenure at the helm of the club has been marred by players’ strike over unpaid winning bonuses.

The former Manchester City striker has on several occasions shown concern over the manner in which his charges prepare for games.

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