OnSport Reporter
FORMER Highlanders medical doctor Xolani Ndlovu has indicated that it would be foolhardy to occupy the chief executive officer (CEO)’s post at the Bulawayo giants under the current club constitution.
Ndlovu, a club life member said in the current club set-up, the CEO is undermined and called for the abolishing of the club executive committee and establishment of a board of trustees, that would foster policy direction and give the CEO leverage to perform his duties without undue interference.
“One thing I can confidently say about Highlanders F.C, the team that I love, is that an overhaul of its constitution is way overdue. Some of the posts in the executive committee and executive board are redundant and not in line with modern governance systems that espouse efficiency and accountability. There is a position that is inaptly called the Chief Executive Officer at the club. Anyone taking up that role must know that they are taking on a poisoned chalice where you are expected to be in charge of a system that does not report to you,” Ndlovu said.
Ndlovu said this after last week’s resignation of the acting CEO Kindman Ndlovu, who cited interference in his work from executive treasurer Nkani Khoza.
Kindman was appointed acting CEO at the club, following the suspension and later resignation of Brian Moyo, who was accused of fraud and his matter is in the courts.
The ex-Bosso doctor said, he would not take up the Bosso CEO post in the obtaining circumstances at the club, regarding the current constitution.
“In a normal organisational structure, the CEO runs the organisation while a board of directors gives policy direction. However, at Highlanders you have this weird situation where the CEO reports to an elected executive committee which in turn reports to an unelected board that also has executive powers. Board members are nominated by this elected committee with members only required to ratify the nominations. The CEO has no power to hire or fire, yet he/she is expected to be accountable for the performance of the organisation. I would also resign from an organisation where I am expected to be accountable but not given the authority to do my work. I would not take up the role in the first place, except to make my name and move on to better systems that understand corporate governance principles,” he said.
The Highlanders executive members are chairman Kenneth Mhlophe, his deputy Fiso Siziba, secretary Morgen Dube, treasurer Khoza and committee member Kindman, later appointed acting CEO.
The club has a patron, Jimmy Solumba Ncube, president Dumisani Sandi with the board led by Luke Mnkandla, his vice Cosmas Sikhosana and board secretary Matthew Sibindi and other board members, nominated by the executive committee and ratified by the club members.
Ndlovu’s proposal is for the crafting of a new constitution that would give Highlanders a business outlook and shy away from donations and sponsorships that come with conditions rendering the club susceptible to capture.
“My proposal is for the rewriting of the constitution, not merely a cosmetic amendment of certain clauses. I would have an elected non-executive board of trustees with minimum known criteria set for eligibility and completely eliminate the executive committee. The current constitutional provisions for eligibility for the executive committee leave room for hijacking of the club by outsiders. There would be a proper CEO who is accountable for every aspect of the club’s performance on and off the pitch, including all non-football sporting activities. The CEO is a person who is supposed to create his own income. If he doesn’t generate it, he doesn’t get paid, simple. I would set up a commercial arm of Highlanders (call it Highlanders Holdings), which will be a proper Pty Ltd company and can conduct business, make/lose money, sue and be sued in its own right,” Ndlovu said.
He added: “This holding company would have Highlanders FC (the parent club) as the majority shareholder (say 60%) on behalf of the community with the other 40% shares available for investors (not donors or sponsors). Highlanders FC (the football club side), can secure its own sponsors independent of the holding company. We are tired of this perennial begging bowl mentality that is making us the laughing stock of Zimbabwean football for such a brand. This is my opinion. One way or the other, we have to move forward. Highlanders cannot be owned by anyone, directly or indirectly.”
The Highlanders constitution has been a thorny issue over the years and one time, the club established a committee to lead the constitution review process, led by board member Elkanah Dube.
That committee’s draft constitution did not see the light of day.
The issues once again rose at the club’s annual general meeting in January with cosmetic amendments being made that included the change of names of positions in the executive and holding executive elections in the same year.
